Forte Montecchio Nord and Forte Fuentes

Forte Fuentes and Montecchio Nord: Control over Lake Como

Colico was chosen for the construction of this fort due to its position at the end of Valtellina, which has always been a connecting artery between the valleys, the lake, and Milan. The fort, a structure that can be considered modern, was completed at the end of 1914 and represents the most technologically advanced Italian installation of World War I.

The four cannons still present are to this day the largest in Italy and are still functional, capable of firing accurately at distances exceeding 14 kilometers.
Thanks to its commanding position, the fort offers a striking and unique panorama of Lake Como and the mountains of Valtellina and Valchiavenna. Visits, preferably accompanied by a guide, are available every weekend from March to November, and during the summer months also on weekdays.

Forte di Fuentes stands on Montecchio Est, in Pian di Spagna. It was built between 1601 and 1605. The fort, commissioned by the Spanish governor of Milan, was tasked with defending the border with the territory of the Grisons, which at the time extended as far as Colico.
The fort's position is strategic since, being located at the confluence of Valchiavenna and Valtellina, it can easily control both routes. The fort, which later passed through the hands of various rulers of the region, was abandoned during the Austrian Empire and subsequently sold to private ownership. Napoleon, upon entering Milan, sent a group of assault troops to destroy the fort, which was demolished without encountering any resistance, as it had by then been converted to simple agricultural use.

The fort was later restored during World War I: two gun emplacements were added, oriented toward the valleys, in order to provide support to the nearby but more distant Forte Montecchio Nord.
Today it can be visited with dedicated guides, who are able to illustrate the entire history of this strategic fort for the protection of the Lake Como territory.