Lierna
Edited by:
Massimo Martini
Access
Lierna is located on the eastern shore of Lake Como and is crossed by the Lake Como and Spluga state road, the main link between the Milan area and Alto Lario. Motorway access is via the Milan-Venice motorway and the Milan-Varese motorway, in connection with the . The municipality has a railway station on the Milan-Lecco-Sondrio-Tirano line, with active regional connections to Milan and Valtellina. The reference airports are Milan-Linate and Milan-Malpensa. Extra-urban bus services provide connections to Lecco and the neighbouring municipalities. During peak periods and in adverse weather conditions, delays may occur along the and on the coastal road system.
.Introduction
Lierna is a municipality in Lombardy located on the eastern shore of Lake Como, in the province of Lecco, between Mandello del Lario and Varenna. The town is developed along a narrow coastal strip at an average altitude of about 200 metres, while the territory rises rapidly towards the pre-Alpine mountains that exceed 1,800 metres in altitude. Its geographical location makes it a point of connection between the lake environment and the mountain slopes, in continuity with the Grigne system. The settlement's origins are ancient and linked to the presence of Roman and medieval communication routes along the Lario. The local identity is characterised by the fragmented settlement structure in historic nuclei and the constant relationship between lake and mountain.
Description
The municipal territory presents a marked altimetrical excursion from the lake level to the inland mountain ridges. The morphology is characterised by steep slopes, terraces and wooded basins, with rocky outcrops and environments typical of the pre-alpine context. The coastline alternates between urbanised stretches and pebbly beaches and small inlets, while the hinterland is criss-crossed by historical paths and connecting routes to higher altitudes.
The settlement structure is divided into several historical nuclei distributed along the coast and on the first reliefs, including Castello, Bancola and Sornico. The nucleus of Castello preserves medieval remains, with fortified ruins and the church of Saints Mauro and Grato, which document the strategic importance of the site in controlling the lake routes.
The historical origins date back to Roman times, when the territory was affected by road routes along the lake. In the Middle Ages Lierna was included in the defensive and administrative system of the eastern Lario. In the following centuries, the economy was based on agricultural activities, fishing and exploitation of forest resources, supplemented in contemporary times by services and local tourism.
The territory is crossed by the Sentiero del Viandante (Wayfarer's Path), a historical route that connects Lecco to Colico along the eastern shore of the lake. Numerous routes go up to the mountain ridges, allowing connections with Mandello del Lario and the Valsassina. The mountain environment is frequented for hiking and outdoor activities in different seasons.
Information
Area: 11.24km²
Main altitude: 214m
Main elevation: 1,827m - Monte Pilastro
Number of inhabitants: 2.109 as of 30 November 2025
Name in dialect: lierna
Name of inhabitants: liernesi
Patron Saint: Sant'Ambrogio, celebrated on 7 December
Bordering municipalities: Mandello del Lario, Oliveto Lario, Perledo, Varenna
Official website: www.comune.lierna.lc.it
Points of interest
main points of interest
- castello di lierna
- church of saints maurizio and grato
- monte croce di muggio
- sentiero del viandante
- spiagge di lierna
deep insights by category
- cultural heritage - map
- villages () - map
- villages () - map
Itineraries
main itineraries
- Monte Pilastro
- sentiero del wayfarer
itineraries by activity
- hiking () - map
- mountain biking () - map