Corenno Plinio: the village of a thousand steps
Stone-hewn stairways, medieval houses, and a small harbor overlooking the lake.
Map and itinerary
CaFelicita → Gravedona → Domaso → Gera Lario → Sorico → Colico → Dorio → Corenno Plinio
Allow approximately 30–35 minutes by car, depending on traffic along the SS36.
Parking spaces in the immediate vicinity are limited. During busy periods, you may need to leave your car along the road or in designated parking areas before reaching the village.
Why visit?
Corenno Plinio is a small medieval hamlet built on a rocky outcrop at the foot of Monte Legnoncino.
The houses are connected by narrow lanes known as calogge and steep stairways carved into the rock, leading from the square down to the ancient harbor. This is where its nickname, the “village of a thousand steps”, comes from.
In the upper part of the village, you will find the medieval castle, the Church of St Thomas of Canterbury and the remarkable Andreani Tombs. The castle, built between 1360 and 1370, is privately owned and opens only for scheduled guided tours.
It is a short but memorable experience, ideal for discovering a quieter, more historic side of Lake Como.
Panorama di Corenno Plinio – Foto: BKLuis / Wikimedia Commons – CC BY-SA 3.0
Duration
- Village visit: approximately 60–90 minutes
- Including travel: 2½–3 hours
- With a walk or aperitif in Dervio: half a day
Suitable for
Couples, families with children who are used to walking, photographers, history enthusiasts and guests looking for small villages away from the busiest tourist routes.
Not suitable for strollers, wheelchairs or people with reduced mobility due to the many steps and uneven paving.
Difficulty
Easy–moderate
The distance is short, but there are steep stairways, worn steps and stone paths that can become slippery when wet. Comfortable shoes with good grip are recommended.
What to discover
- The calogge and stairways carved into the rock
- The small medieval harbor
- The castle and its outer walls
- The Church of St Thomas of Canterbury
- The three Andreani Tombs
- The closely packed stone houses
- Views of the lake and its western shore
Arche Andreani – Foto: Torsade de Pointes / Wikimedia Commons – CC0 1.0
Practical information
The official website currently indicates a standard admission fee of €4 to visit the village. Reduced rates are available for young people aged 10 to 18 and groups of at least 20 people; children under 10 enter free of charge. Before setting off, we recommend checking the official Corenno Plinio information page.
The castle is not normally open to visitors inside. The guided openings announced for 2026 ended on August 1, so access should not be assumed unless new official information is published.
Castello di Corenno Plinio – Foto: Emibuzz / Wikimedia Commons – CC BY-SA 4.0
CaFelicita’s tips
Visit Corenno in the morning or late afternoon, when the stone buildings glow in warmer light and the village is quieter.
Take your time walking down to the harbor and remember that the climb back involves quite a few steps. After your visit, you can stop in Dervio for a lakeside stroll or an aperitif, as facilities in the tiny village are very limited.
If it rains, we recommend postponing your visit because the steps can become slippery.
A little secret from the Gilardoni Family
Once you reach the small harbor, don’t turn around immediately to climb back up.
Walk to the far end of the landing and look back: from there, the stairways, bell tower, houses and castle seem to form a single miniature stone nativity scene. It is the view that best captures the spirit of Corenno.
The Gilardoni Family
CaFelicita
RELAX, LAKE & VIEW ☀ ★ ≋
