Lombardy · Como
Torno
A medieval village on the eastern shore of Lake Como, home to Villa Pliniana and its rhythmic spring described by Pliny the Younger.
Known for
PLINIANA SPRING
Rhythmic intermittent spring in the villa grounds, described by Pliny the Younger and studied by Leonardo da Vinci.
SANTA TECLA
12th-century church with Gothic rose window and frescoes by the Larian school painters De Benzi and Beghi.
VILLA PLINIANA
1573 lakeside villa built by the Como governor Giovanni Anguissola, with a long catalogue of owners since.
When to visit
Best · Apr–Oct
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
Why come
Torno sits on the eastern shore of Lake Como, five kilometres north of the city of Como and forty-five from Milan. The medieval village climbs in narrow lanes from the small port up the steep slope behind it, the historic core compact enough to walk in fifteen minutes. The Chiesa di Santa Tecla, first mentioned in 1208 in correspondence between Pope Innocent III and the abbot of Sant'Abbondio of Como, holds a large Gothic rose window above the entrance, frescoes from the local Larian school by Bartolomeo De Benzi and by Beghi, and the date 1480 cut into the entrance portal.
The Romanesque bell tower predates the rest. Outside the village, at the lake edge, stands Villa Pliniana, built in 1573 by the Como governor Giovanni Anguissola. Inside its grounds rises the rhythmic spring that Pliny the Younger described in his Letters and that Leonardo da Vinci came to study. The villa has had a long list of owners since.
The Sunday letter
We haven’t written Torno’s letter yet.
One town every Sunday, with the photo, the food, the festa. Be there when this one comes up. Free, by Peter & Sophia from Pietrasanta.
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What to see
Chiesa di Santa Tecla
Romanesque-Gothic church first documented in 1208, with a Gothic rose window, statue niche and entrance dated 1480.
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista
Romanesque parish church above the village, with a marble portal carved by the Maestri Comacini in the 16th century.
Villa Pliniana
1573 villa by Giovanni Anguissola at lake's edge, around the rhythmic spring described by Pliny the Younger and studied by Leonardo.
Centro storico
Compact medieval core of stepped lanes climbing from the port, walkable end to end in roughly fifteen minutes.
Porto di Torno
Small lake harbour, the boat connection point with Como city and the western shore villages.
The slow-trip planner
Building a trip? Find where Torno fits in a slow Italy circuit.
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We recommend
Where to eat and stay
Not our picks, but places the guides put their name to — a Michelin star, a Gambero Rosso fork, a Slow Food snail, a Michelin Key for the hotels. Worth a table, a counter, or a night when you pass through.
Al Lago del Sereno HotelRistorante
Two Gambero Rosso forks (81/100), at Al Lago del Sereno Hotel.
Il Sereno Al LagoRistorante
One Michelin star, at Il Sereno Al Lago.
Il Sereno Lago di ComoHotel
Two Michelin Keys for Il Sereno Lago di Como, along with a La Liste score of 93 and a Leading Hotels of the World listing.
Living here
- Population 1,086
- Commuter belti
- Pharmacy in town
- High school within a 30-minute drive
- Nearest airport Milan, 1 h 30 min drive
- Regional capital Milano, 1 h 4 min drive
Tags & datadesignations · numbers · sources
Recognised as
The numbers
- Elevation: 225 m
- Population: 1,086
- Surface area: 7.53 km²
These figures were compiled from public directories — ISTAT, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata — and from the official listings of the guides named on this page. Town details change; verify with official sources before you travel.
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