Almost too hard to miss when beginning your street hiking in Brunate…read more 14th century build ~ unbelievable how this was constructed so long ago atop of the mountain. The sanctuary design still has you feel awe & peace when taking a moment of pause. An amazing presence for the neighborhood.

This church is the example of the Roman-Lombard art, built almost a thousand of years ago by the…read moreMasters of Como, with a polychrome wooden sculpture of the Buried Christ of the Spanish-Baroque school. It has sort of stylish vibe and would be interesting to check out, and I enjoyed exploring this church during the visit at Bellagio.

Gayle and I paid a respectful visit here during our recent walking tour of Bellagio. This Church is…read morea fine example of 12th Century Roman-Lombard art and was built between 1075 and 1125 by the Masters of Como. The inside mosaics are most impressive to behold.

The Duomo is Milan's most beautiful church by exterior, but he has a competitor for the most…read morebeautiful church by interior: San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, a former nunnery! Behind a virtually nonexistence facade, San Maurizio hides perhaps one of the most ornate church interiors and can actually compete with the famous Sistine Chapel. From the moment you step in the door - assuming you finally find the right door - you will be awed by the incredibly colorful paintings that surround you! Despite being in a small room, the vast amount of the beautiful paintings can spell-bind you for a while. Additionally, for the first time in history, you as a public member can finally pass through the partition wall into the previously restricted nunnery hall! Like the public worship hall across the wall, the nunnery hall is also filled with paintings. However, while the worship hall paintings are intended to awe the public the divine grace with vibrant colors, the nunnery hall paintings intend to invoke piety with serenely-colored examples of female saints. You can admire for a few minutes or examine for hours, but this church is certainly a sight that you should not miss! Did I miss it's free to enter? --- tl;dr version: 1) Perhaps Milan's most beautiful interior 2) Small spaces that are filled with marvelous paintings 3) Free sight that should not be missed

This is one of the most beautiful churches I have seen in Italy…read more Considered the "Sistine Chapel" of Milano, San Maurizio is overwhelmingly blessed with walls and ceilings decorated by one of the masters of frescoes Bernardino Luini and his sons. Entering through the doorway of the Archeological Museum, you walk to the left to the entrance. Once inside, your eyes are mesmerized by the frescoes of men and women dressed in flowing robes as appropriate in the mid-1500s. There is a huge organ on the second floor looming over wooden choir seats. The frescoes are on a wall separating the church where the general masses sit and the hidden portion of the church where nuns par tipster in the service. The towards the back are frescoes from passages of the Bible such as Noah's Ark, the passion of Christ, etc. The volume of art was spectacular. Having just been restored the color are so freshr-looking you could be looking at the scenes as they would have appeared when the Master artists finished their work. Entrance is free but please do tmake a donation to support this incredible treasure.

Spoiler: you walk a lot of stairs…read more The church has a quite impressive (for such a small village like Morcote) inside, which is baroque in style but, according the omniscient Wikipedia, the building's origins are mediaeval. I am more romanesque, so I prefer the smaller and humbler Sant' Antonio Abate chapel (which also is more easily reached). In front of it, there's also the Battisterio, with a small lantern tower delicately decorated with frescoes. Also, there's a public defibrillator nearby because, as I already warned you, you will have to go up almost 400 steps. And it hurts. But the views over the lake and Porto Ceresio are worth it. Pro tip: there's a dirt track behind the battisterio, opposite to downtown, that is less excruciating.

Duomo di Como is a stunning cathedral…read more It is described as the last Gothic cathedral built in Italy. It started construction in 1396, but took almost four centuries to be completed. The Rococo cupola was added in 1770. Surprised to see statues of two famous members of Ancient Rome flanking the rose window. Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, natives of Como, are both honored on the facade of the cathedral. Pliny the Elder died in 79 AD, a victim of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. His nephew, Pliny the Younger, chronicled the events that were buried in time under the ashes. A beautiful cathedral to enjoy on a visit to Lake Como.

Massive cathedral in the heart of Como. I didn't expect it to be so large, but it's about the same…read moresize of Duomo in Milan. With Italy I swear every corner has something to offer. Italy is just a majestic place. Beautiful massive cathedral.