The Lighthouse on the Hilltop above Lake Como, Italy

Saturday December 14, 2019 -- We were really surprised when we headed to Lugano for our (planned) Saturday walk from village to village and through the forests to see that it had snowed substantially here! This was a shock because it's usually the other way around. Here in the North we would have snow, in the South mild and warm weather! This time it was the other way around. But the Ticino does sometimes get snow. 

So spontaneously we purchased some Euros and a ticket across the border to Como in Italy, where there was no snow. Well not down in the city anyway, but what we really have been wanting to do is ride the funicular to Brunate 500m higher up on the hill. Main idea being that we could take the hiking trail up to the Volta Lighthouse (built in 1927 on the centenary of Alessandro Volta's death) and maybe walk back down to the Lake.

But that didn't happen either, because apparently they got loads of snow up here the day before as well (only 700m above sea level) and the trails were icy. So what we did instead is walk up the regular road which was cleared, had pizza and polenta at the restaurant near the lighthouse, then paid our 2 Euros tourist fee to go up the lighthouse to a fantastic view over the city of Como and the entire lake to the North. Other than the wind at the top of the tower, the afternoon was warm and balmy. But we were surprised at the numbers of people still coming up with the funicular as we headed back down into the city, now already in full shadow at 3:30 p.m. We ended our day with some very yummy gelato (Tiramisu flavour), a must every time we are in Italy. 

This is our usual go-to hiking area (Magadino Plain) when the weather is bad North of the Alps. Here it's usually mild and sunny, but we were surprised by how much it had snowed!

So we headed across the border to Lake Como in the hopes that there would be less snow here!

We had wanted to take the funicular up this mountain for quite some time now, and saw on the map that there was a lighthouse on the hill, so that is what we spontaneously decided to do.

 

Lake Como. There is quite a bit of snow higher up so we are not sure if we will be able to walk back down to the lake level further North of here

I love the cormorants. They often just sit with their wings spread out

Heading up the mountain with the funicular, to the village of Brunate. That house looks angry!

 

Another funicular ride to check off our list!

 

Near the Funicular Station is a look-out point with quite a fabulous view down over the city of Como

Zoomed view of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

And you can see all the way into the Valais Alps with the highest peaks in the Swiss Alps

 

The church in Brunate: Parrocchia Sant'Andrea Apostolo

 

One of many villas along the road as we walked up toward the lighthouse

Another beautiful home along the road. These houses have stupendous views over the lake!

 

The restaurant where we had lunch. I found out later that is a church (San Maurizio) on the left! I usually peek into all churches we pass, but I kind of missed this one.

This is one of the pizzas on the menu: With hot dog and French Fries as toppings!

Heading up the stairs to the lighthouse. It was icy and slippery from the recent, and probably uncommon snow.

 

Lighthouse dedicated to Alessandro Volta, who lived for a short time in Brunate. The lighthouse was built in 1927 on the centenary of his death.

Piazza in front of the lighthouse

 

The view from up here was worth the walk up from Brunate (approx 4 km round-trip)

 

The village on the hill is called Sagno (in Switzerland). We have walked from there to Chiasso down below a few years ago.

Heading up the spiral stairway inside the lighthouse

The stairs didn't lookt too sturdy and the brackets were rusting!

At the top of the tower it was very windy!

Spectacular view North along Lake Como from the top of the tower

 

Heading back down

 

Back in Brunate. These roads are very narrow!

 

Late afternoon sunshine on the Brunate Church

When we got back to Como we were surprised at the number of people wanting to go up the mountain! The funicular runs every 15 minutes. Pretty sure some of these people will have to wait about 45 minutes!

Heading back to the Como train station, we passed the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

Christmas shopping in the streets of Como! Near here we grabbed some gelato before heading the train station.

"The Hands" monument at the Como train station

 

As it turns out, with the walk through Como and to the lighthouse in Brunate, we still managed about 8 km walking here.

Como is just South of the border of Switzerland, where you cross from Chiasso on the way to Milano