Castello di Vezio — Attraction in Varenna

I went to Castello di Vezzio two weeks ago and it was amazing! I walked from Perledo to Castello so must of the hike was downhill. There is a part of the hike that’s a bit steep and slippery if it’s raining but nothing out of this world, you don’t need special gear to do it and it’s completely worth it! There’s a lot of information regarding the history of Castello and Varenna, you can even see the attire knights used for battle. The most rewarding of all it is the panoramic view you have of Lake Como at the top of the tower. It’s stunning! If you want to avoid most of the steep part of the hike, you can take the street (Via Per Vezzio) and then Via del Castellano instead of Il Sentiero del Viandante. That’s what I did when I was walking back since it was raining and it was way too slippery. It’s a longer walk but it’s safer, although you’ll miss Orrido di Vezzio. You can also get there by car and park at the parking lot near Castello. You’ll still have to walk a part of the steep hike, though. There’s a restaurant at Castello di Vezzio, food is delicious! Highly recommend this place! The tickets are €5 per person and you can buy them there. Maybe in peak season it’s better to buy them online in advance. If you go, please don’t overwhelm Artù. Enjoy his beauty from afar, don’t make loud noises and don’t take pictures with flash. Respect the owl, please....

A magical place but dogs are not allowed

Wear proper shoes with a non-slippery sole to get up and down without any fear.

Be advised that the walk way up to the castle is very steep and not suitable for buggies or people who have problems walking. Especially when it has rained the little rocks are very slippery, especially when walking down to the ferry or the city of Varenna. So better to wear proper shoes and a walking stick might help as well. And take water with you when going up. You might need it for the very steep parts.

Be advised that no dogs are allowed. Either the dog can wait at the fence or with a person at the little bistro. The bistro is nice and offers good coffee and snacks and warm meals (warm meals only until 4 pm).

The entrance fee is 5 Euros and from my opinion it is worth it. The view and the exhibition is awesome. The little prison is good and the highlight is the view from the tower. The ghosts everywhere make that place magical.

Duration for seeing everything: Depends how crowded it is. Usually between 40min and 1 hour. But you can take as much time as you want.

During weekdays it is...

Incredibly beautiful location. We followed the walking directions on the website, taking the footpath from Varenna, which was steep but manageable and took about 30 minutes. It was mostly shady but probably best not attempted at the hottest part of the day! Don't follow Maps for walking directions as it currently takes people a longer 3km route up. Entry to the castle was 5 euro, it wasn't too busy and the views are amazing. There are birds of prey to see also - I would love to know a bit more about the birds and their welfare, but several were out of their enclosures and some had information boards. Apart from the birds, most informative was available in English as well as Italian. The tower stairs are quite steep/tall (sadly there is no alternative for those with limited mobility) but it's worth climbing if you can for the view! Some slightly strange but amusing decorations like skeletons in the old WW1 area and spooky ghost sculptures, as well as lots of lovely plants. So worth the price and the climb - some of the most amazing views...