Carenno

Located on a plateau overlooking Lake Garlate, Carenno is a beautiful village in the province of Lecco.

Much of its territory is occupied by pastures and woodland, which indicates the mainly agricultural economy of this area and explains the high level of emigration away from the town. Carrenese masons are particularly appreciated for their technical skills abroad, and migrated to Switzerland and France. Their craftsmanship and life stories are now the subject of a museum, the Museo dei Muratori.

An ancient manuscript kept in the Bishop's Archive in Bergamo testifies to the existence of a village here as early as 985 AD.

During the Middle Ages, many families established their power in this area, including the House of Rota, which played a primary role not only in civil and military life, but also in the economy of Carenno.

In the early 20th century, thanks to the carriageway, the first tourists began to arrive. The Milanese and Brianza bourgeoisie were drawn to the village by the holiday homes and beauty spots just a short distance from home.

Carenno is still known for its production of Scagliolo maize, an ancient variety of polenta that is known for its fine quality and which requires little water, making it suitable for even the driest of soils.