Location
Dongo lies on the north-western shore of the lake, where the Albano stream flows into the Lario.
History
Thanks to its strategic position between the lake and the Swiss canton of Grisons, it was heavily fortified and belonged first to the Visconti and then to the Medici (Medeghino); at the end of the 16th century it became part of the Tre Pievi area, tied to the Duchy of Milan, and later a fief of the Como-born cardinal Tolomeo Gallio. On 27 April 1945, Benito Mussolini was captured here while fleeing towards Valtellina; the Fascist hierarchs were executed shortly afterwards at Giulino di Mezzegra.
What to see
- Museo della Fine della Guerra: housed on the ground floor of the neoclassical Palazzo Manzi (where Mussolini was interrogated after his capture), it recounts the Liberation and the events of April 1945 using interactive technology. On the lakefront opposite, a plaque marks the spot where the hierarchs were executed.
- Parish church of Santo Stefano: 18th-century frescoes and decorations.
- Church of Santa Maria in Martinico: Romanesque origins, restored in the 20th century.
- Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Lacrime.
What to do
From Dongo, the road climbs towards Stazzona, Germasino and Garzeno, with hikes into the Valle Albano (between the lake and the Val Morobbia in the Swiss canton of Ticino) and the scenic ascent of Monte Bregagno.
Getting there
The fast Navigazione Laghi ferry services stop at Dongo, as does the C10 Como-Menaggio-Colico bus line (Paracchini stop); by car, follow the SS340 Regina.
Festivities
26 December, Saint Stephen, patron saint of Dongo.