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Visiting Lake Como doesn’t mean only seeing the most famous and most photographed villas, but also the lesser-known villages that are true, authentic hidden gems. Corenno Plinio (a hamlet of Dervio) is a perfectly preserved medieval village, recognised among “Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages – Uno dei Borghi più Belli d’Italia”. Strolling along its cobbled lanes, you feel transported back in time. Stone houses, arches, stairways carved straight into the rock… everything is authentic, unchanged for centuries. And its true spirit is medieval: dominated by a 14th-century castle, it looks like something from a fairytale.
The name “Plinio” is a tribute to Pliny the Younger, who according to tradition owned a villa right here. It is said that Pliny the Elder, the renowned naturalist, also explored these places. The village is famous for its stone steps: every single one is different, worn by time and by centuries of footsteps.
One legend says that beneath the Church of Saint Thomas there is a secret passage leading to the lake, once used by the castle’s lords to escape during a siege. No one has ever confirmed the tunnel’s existence, but everyone in the village believes it…
A medieval fortification with crenellated towers that overlooks the lake. Today it is private property, but you can admire it from the outside… and even that is breathtaking.
The Tower of Corenno (14th century) rises above the lake and is the symbol of the village.
Secret: Inside, a spiral staircase leads to a small window from which people once watched for approaching enemies.
With its Gothic façade and ancient frescoes, it is the village’s spiritual heart.
A small church with 14th-century frescoes and a bell tower that feels like a lighthouse for sailors.
Curiosity: The Feast of Saint Thomas (3 July) is still celebrated here with a procession in medieval costume.
Wandering through the paved lanes is like stepping back in time. Look out for:
A short climb and you’ll find yourself facing one of the most beautiful views on Lake Como.
The “Balcony of Corenno” is a viewpoint from which you can see a large stretch of Lake Como.
Magic moment: at sunset, when the mountains turn pink.
It may sound unusual, but it’s one of the most striking places, with tombs carved into living rock that tell centuries of local history.
Descending one of the stairways to the lake, you reach a small pebble beach, perfect for a peaceful swim.
If you can, avoid summer weekends. Corenno is tiny and quiet, and it’s at its best at sunset or in autumn, when the village turns red and gold and the lake is calm like a mirror. And bring comfortable shoes: here you walk only on foot, with climbs, steps and stones.
“Corenno Plinio isn’t just a village — it’s an emotion. Here every stone tells a story, every view takes your breath away. Come and discover it… and let yourself be enchanted. And if you decide to stay overnight, I recommend basing yourself in Bellano in an apartment at Villa Vista Lago.”