Holiday apartment in Colico: Forts, Cycle Paths and Water Sports

A holiday apartment in Colico is a good starting point if you want to combine culture, historic sites and active days on holiday. Between fortresses, Romanesque architecture, cycle paths and water sports, there are various ways to discover the area at your own pace.

History and Culture in Colico

Forte di Fuentes was built in 1603 to prevent the expansionist ambitions of the Grisons. It is also one of the few surviving examples of Spanish rule in this area. Forte Montecchio Nord is the only Italian fort from the First World War whose original armament is still completely intact. Access is only possible as part of a guided tour, which takes place every hour. Forte di Fuentes can be visited on days not specified in advance by prior reservation.

Another special cultural site is the Abbazia di Piona, more precisely the Priorato di Piona. It is a rare example of Lombard Romanesque architecture and is located in the municipality of Colico at the tip of the small Olgiasca peninsula. The Abbazia di Piona can be reached by car via a free car park, on foot from Colico or by boat.

In the Villatico district, the Museo della Cultura Contadina di Colico provides insights into rural life in the Colico area between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The ethnographic museum documents local activities such as cheese production, haymaking, livestock farming, viticulture and cereal cultivation.

Cycle Paths, Walks and Views

The Sentiero Valtellina is a 114-kilometre cycle and walking path along the Adda River, connecting Colico with Bormio. It has 40 equipped rest areas, 46 access points and is connected to 6 bicycle rental stations. The Ciclabile Valchiavenna begins in Colico and runs for 40 kilometres to Villa di Chiavenna, the last town before the Swiss border. It is almost completely flat, suitable for all types of bicycles and can also be used with a pushchair. The different route lengths help you plan an excursion according to the desired duration.

Shorter routes also lead to historic destinations. Torre di Fontanedo was built in the 14th century at the instigation of Bernabò Visconti as part of the defensive line of the Upper Lake. It can be reached on foot via a mule track marked with the AF signs of CAI Colico and was restored in 2019. The Anello dei Forti offers a viewpoint overlooking the Colico plain, Montecchio Est and the Bassa Valtellina.

Water Sports and the Right Holiday Apartment

At Ontano Beach, visitors can learn and practise wakeboarding, SUP, windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing. In Colico, there are three facilities where kitesurfing equipment can be rented and kitesurfing can be practised. This allows you to plan your stay around both active hours on the water and cultural and cycling experiences.

When choosing your holiday apartment in Colico, you can therefore first determine the focus you want for your holiday: The paths along the Adda and the almost completely flat Ciclabile Valchiavenna are ideal for relaxed days of cycling, while the forts, museum and Abbazia di Piona offer cultural discoveries. Those who want to combine different activities can take various holiday priorities into account when choosing their apartment and do not have to commit to a single type of trip.

Discover more places for planning your trip with Lierna, Garbagnate Monastero, Calolziocorte, Cernusco Lombardone, Robbiate, Imbersago, Barzanò and Abbadia Lariana.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lecco.