Orrido di Nesso

A magical place on Lake Como

Nesso is a small village located on the eastern shore of the lake, halfway between Como and Bellagio, reachable along the ancient Strada Regia. In addition to offering a wonderful panoramic viewpoint for taking incredible photographs of Lake Como, Nesso is famous for its namesake orrido, a deep natural gorge in the rock carved by two streams that converge at this point, which have opened a deep fracture in the rock through the force of the water over the centuries. The union of the two streams explodes into a waterfall with a drop of more than 200 meters!

The gorge and the waterfall divide the small village in two, a true jewel nestled between the rock overlooking the placid waters of the lake.

Nesso and the gorge can also be visited by land: the village is reached from above, following the road that leads to the lake; the gorge can be glimpsed, while the waterfall is noisy but still hidden. Once you reach a long stone staircase (the steps are all there to be counted), follow it to the end, passing the colorful houses that characterize Nesso. At the end of the staircase, you cross the Ponte della Civera, a bridge of ancient origin that leads to a small rock tunnel... At the end of the tunnel, you will find the gorge and the waterfall!
The gorge can also be admired from the water: by ferry, boat, or canoe, to admire the village from the lake, with its colors melting into the water, and the rock attempting to withstand the force of nature. By canoe, the experience is even more authentic, as it is possible to cautiously enter the gorge and admire the stunning natural habitat up close.

For those who are more fit, a hiking itinerary connects Bellagio to Nesso (12 km), or from Brunate (16 km), which can also be covered by mountain bike.