Gravedona, Italy is a resort at the northern end of Lake Como in Lombardy

Visit Gravedona

The town of Gravedona - or Gravedona ed Uniti to give it its full name - is on the lake-side close to the northern end of Lake Como and is one of the main ferry stops.

Exploring Gravedona

The main appeal of Gravedona itself is in the waterfront area, with its traffic free promenade and colourful houses, and the church on a small headland. The small historic centre is also pleasant to explore.

The Church of Santa Maria del Tiglio is actually very ancient, said to be from the 12th century or earlier, and contains a mosaic early engraving of a centaur chasing a deer, which we were told is a symbol of the early persecution of the Christian church. The gardens around the church are also very well maintained.

Otherwise it is mostly the outdoor activities that attract visitors to Gravedona, and it is a long established center for both windsurfing and sailing and other water sports.

In particular, when you visit and see the mountains of the region behind the town you will want to explore the hills behind Gravedona, where there are lots of quaint unspoiled villages such as Germasino, Stazzona and Brenzio - we were recommended to walk through these villages and then back to Gravedona itself and were rewarded with some very pretty lake views.

Attractions nearby

Active visitors will want to head for nearby Domasco which is the principal centre for all water based activities on Lake Como such as boating and windsurfing.

Of course, there are many other scenic attractions, towns and villages around the shores of Lake Como to enjoy, many of which can be accessed from the ferry stop in Gravedona - although the size of the lake does mean that boats from here can take rather a long time to reach the southern resorts! See Lake Como guide for details.

You can find more local travel ideas in the Como guide and the Lombardy guide.