Location
Esino Lario is a mountain municipality (910 m) in the province of Lecco, entirely within the Parco Regionale della Grigna Settentrionale, about ten kilometres from Varenna.
History
Ancient origins attested by archaeological finds. Until 1927 the territory was divided into the separate municipalities of Esino Superiore and Esino Inferiore, later merged. In 2016 Esino Lario hosted Wikimania, the worldwide gathering of Wikipedia volunteers — nearly 1,400 participants from over 70 countries in a village of fewer than 800 inhabitants, an event that left lasting changes in the town.
What to see
- Ghiacciaia del Moncodeno: caves and a natural ice house already visited by Leonardo da Vinci; the Moncodeno slope has nearly 600 caves and sinkholes in under 2 sq km.
- Church of San Vittore Martire: on the 15th-century Castello.
- Church of San Pietro in Ortanella; a Way of the Cross by the sculptor Michele Vedani.
- Villa Clotilde: home to the Ecomuseo delle Grigne, a library and the tourist office.
- Museo delle Grigne: archaeological finds, fossils, minerals, butterflies and ethnographic objects from the massif.
What to do
A starting point for the Grigna Settentrionale, Monte Croce and Monte San Defendente, with rock faces equipped for climbing. Towards Ortanella, Cainallo and Agueglio through beech and chestnut woods. At Alpe Cainallo, a small volunteer-run beginners’ ski area (two runs, a drag lift and a magic carpet lift).
Getting there
From the Varenna-Esino-Perledo station, a bus on the Bellano-Varenna-Perledo-Esino Lario line climbs to the village in about 40 minutes; by car, follow the provincial road that runs from Varenna through Perledo and continues for another 12 km.
Festivities and curiosities
8 May — Saint Victor, patron saint of Esino Lario. The village has a statue of Pope Pius XI, who loved to set out from here on his climbs of the Grigne.