Livo is a small mountain village (about 655 m.s.l.) located in the North of Italy, in the Lombardy region. It counts not more than 200 inhabitants and its residential complex is mostly composed by stone houses. Yes, you should see them… old, lovely stone houses, like the ones you have perhaps seen on mountain illustrated books.

You can reach it in more than one way, but the best you can do is travelling along the Como Lake, a wonderful, big water mirror surrounded by magnificent mountains. If you have ever seen a Norwegian fjord, you could imagine to be there, because its shape with these peaks surrounding it reminds to the most beautiful fjord. With my pictures, I want to guide you through this emotional and spectacular experience.

Sunset viewed from Fiumelatte (Varenna) By driving on the road along the lake, you can see the most interesting and impressive panoramas. Be ready with your camera, because at every angle there is something new that will require your attention. One after the other, from Cernobbio to Brienno, Laglio (the location choosen by the American actor George Clooney, who has bought here two villas for his Italian staying), Sala Comacina, Cadenabbia, Menaggio, Tremezzo… a series of colourful villages welcome you with their typical harbours and boats, their narrow streets, the scent and the colours of the lake.

Tremezzo Gera Lario During sunny and calm days, the lake surface is dotted with white and coloured sails. What an incredibile view, the blue of the water which contrasts with the colours of the sails!

Gera Lario As soon as you reach “Gravedona”, you’ll see on your left side the indications for Livo. It will take you another 8 km to reach it, it is the last village of the valley, the road stops here. Before reaching this picturesque residential complex, you have to drive through the village of Peglio, which is located just 2 km from Livo. Please, stop at the Church that welcomes you on the right side of the road. You can see it even from Gravedona, the lake town where you have seen the indications for Livo.

St. Eusebio Church (Peglio)

St. Eusebio Church (Peglio) This Church, called Sant’Eusebio, is really something wonderful, it’s a very old one and preserves under its foundations the ossuary. It is worth a visit. From inside the Church you can benefit from a large and extraordinary view onto the Como Lake and the plain below.

Lake Como viewed from St. Eusebio Church (Peglio) St. Eusebio Church (Peglio) After a rest, you can go on driving towards Livo. What you can see just arrived at the village is the big ancient Church, with the high bell tower and the stone houses.

This village, like Peglio, has preserved its ancient rural buildings. If you walk with the Church on the right side, you’ll find on your left side, after about 50 mts., an ancient wash-tub.

During old times, when washing machines didn’t exist, women had to go to these washing-tubs in order to take water for cooking and to wash their clothes. You should go between the houses, walk on the ancient stone pathways, remain in silence and return with your mind to the past, imagine these people struggling for their own and their families’ life to survive to poverty. These were hard times. No matter if it rained or snowed (and snow here was really a problem), they had to walk and reach the peaks of the mountain where they had their cows and sheeps. Now, there are roads, cars, but at those times, there were no roads and every single action was even more difficult.

Think of those people, of those times, of their strength, the strength of mountain people… Only identifying yourself with them, you can experience the real spirit of this small mountain village, where one of the oldest inhabitant is 97 years old and, in spite of the infirmities of old age, has kept such a young spirit and such a pride that she is an example to all the young generations.