Smaller and less famous than Lake Como, Lake Pusiano — the largest of the Brianza lakes, with seven municipalities on its shores across the provinces of Como and Lecco — offers an easy loop combining Napoleonic history, a panoramic sanctuary and the house of one of the leading poets of the Lombard Enlightenment. It’s a route best taken slowly, on foot or by bike along the shore, with a boat crossing to reach the island at the centre of the lake.
Pusiano, between a villa and a sanctuary
Start in the centre of Pusiano, at Palazzo Carpani-Beauharnais: a prestigious residence from the Middle Ages to the Napoleonic era, now the town hall, with a public park open to everyone on the lakefront. From the park, the picturesque Sentiero delle Cappelle dei Misteri del Rosario climbs in about 20 minutes to the Santuario della Madonna della Neve, a 16th-century chapel with views over Brianza and, on clear days, Milan.
The Isola dei Cipressi, by boat
Back on the lakefront, a boat departs from the Pusiano dock for the Isola dei Cipressi, the small island at the centre of the lake covered by about 130 cypress trees. It was once home to Viceroy Eugène de Beauharnais, who used it for court leisure alongside the nearby palace; today it is home to a family from Milan who maintain it, but it remains open to visitors.
Bosisio Parini, the poet’s house
The same boat also connects to the dock at Bosisio Parini, on the opposite shore: this is where Giuseppe Parini, author of the satirical poem “Il Giorno”, was born in 1729 — so much so that in 1929, on the bicentenary of his birth, the town of Bosisio took his name. The Casa Natale di Giuseppe Parini is now a small museum with period furniture, rare editions and documents about the poet’s life.
Those who want to extend the loop can continue towards Eupilio, from where the Ciclovia dei Laghi network climbs towards the nearby Lago del Segrino, with its flat loop and the Lido del Segrino for a swimming stop.
Practical information
- The Santuario della Madonna della Neve is about a 20-minute walk from the centre of Pusiano; the entrance and parking area are not wheelchair-accessible.
- The Isola dei Cipressi is visited by boat from the Pusiano and Bosisio Parini docks; for current schedules and fares, check directly at the two docks, as it is a privately owned, inhabited island.
- The Casa Natale di Giuseppe Parini can be visited by contacting the Comune di Bosisio Parini secretary’s office (tel. +39 031 3580511 ext. 1).
- The link between Pusiano and Bosisio Parini can also be walked or cycled along the shore, in addition to the boat.