Location
Griante lies in the central part of the western branch of the lake, between Tremezzina and Menaggio.
History
Already a significant Roman settlement, in 383 AD the Bishop of Como entrusted this community with the relics of the martyrs Nabor and Felix. It was a fief of the Del Dongo family in the 15th century. From the 19th century it became a leading tourist destination thanks to its mild climate: Queen Victoria of England, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Giuseppe Parini, Giuseppe Verdi (who composed part of La Traviata here at Villa Margherita) and Franz Liszt all stayed here; Stendhal set scenes of “La Certosa di Parma” here.
What to see
- Cadenabbia: the best-known hamlet, with villas (Villa Margherita, Villa Rosa, Villa Ronconi — built on the remains of a medieval castle) and historic hotels along the lakefront; home to the first Anglican church in Italy (1891, pseudo-Gothic style, Murchinson mosaics), built for the large 19th-century English community.
- Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie di San Martino: at 475 m on a rocky spur, with an 18th-century portico offering views over the lake’s three branches and the Bellagio promontory.
What to do
The hike from Griante to the Sasso di San Martino (860 m) is among the most scenic on the lake: an easy initial stretch up to the church, followed by a more demanding rocky path. The Lake Como Greenway also passes through Griante.
Getting there
Cadenabbia, a hamlet of Griante, is a stop on the C10 Como–Colico bus line (about an hour from Como) and a landing stage for the Navigazione Lago di Como across its whole network; from Varenna-Esino station the pier is a few minutes away by ferry.
Festivities
12 July — Saints Nabor and Felix, patron saints of Griante.