Abbadia Lariana, Lake Como: The Silk Mill on the Quiet Shore

Lakefront of Abbadia Lariana on the Lecco arm of Lake Como below the Grigne cliffs — The pastel houses and bell tower of Abbadia Lariana on the shore of the Lecco arm, backed by limestone cliffs. Photo: Ottantafame / Wikimedia Commons – CC BY-SA 4.0.

Some Lake Como towns trade on villas; Abbadia Lariana trades on work. This quiet town on the eastern shore of the Lecco arm, just north of the city of Lecco, keeps one of the lake’s most remarkable industrial survivals — a preserved silk mill with its great throwing machine still in place.

Beneath the wall of the Grigne, Abbadia is a calm, genuine lakeside town, good for a swim, a walk, or a look into the lake’s working past.

A brief history

Abbadia Lariana takes its name from a medieval abbey that once stood here, the religious anchor of the early settlement. In the nineteenth century the town, like much of the lake, turned to silk — and it is that industry, rather than the abbey, that has left its most striking monument, in the shape of the Monti silk mill.

Where Abbadia Lariana sits on the lake

Abbadia Lariana lies on the eastern shore of the Lecco arm, between the city of Lecco to the south and Mandello del Lario to the north, at the foot of the Grigne massif. Trains on the Lecco–Colico line stop here and the road hugs the shore, so it is easy to reach without a car.

Historic wooden silk-throwing machine inside the Setificio Monti silk mill museum, Abbadia Lariana — The restored wooden silk-throwing machine, or torcitoio, inside the Civico Museo Setificio Monti at Abbadia Lariana. Photo: Eluinie / Wikimedia Commons – CC BY-SA 4.0.

The best things to see in Abbadia Lariana

1. The Civico Museo Setificio Monti

The town’s treasure is its silk mill. The Museo Setificio Monti preserves a nineteenth-century mill complete with its monumental circular silk-throwing machine — a rare survival of the industry that once ran through the whole lake, restored and demonstrated to visitors. Its opening hours are limited, so check before you go.

2. The Sentiero del Viandante

Abbadia is a gateway to the Sentiero del Viandante, the historic “Wayfarer’s Path” that traces the eastern shore, linking villages, churches and viewpoints along the old lake route. A stretch of the trail passes through the town, opening walks north toward Mandello and Lierna; our hiking guide has the details.

3. The lakefront and beaches

The town has a pleasant lakefront and quiet beaches, with the Grigne rising sharply behind and the water clean and cool — an easy, uncrowded place for a swim on the Lecco arm.

Planning your visit

Getting there. Abbadia Lariana sits on the Lecco–Colico railway and the eastern-shore road, minutes from Lecco; the Lecco-arm boats serve nearby Mandello and Lierna. See our Lake Como ferry guide.

Best for. Travellers curious about the lake’s industrial heritage, walkers on the Viandante, and swimmers after a quiet shore; one of the lake’s hidden gems.

When to go. Late spring to early autumn for swimming and walking; the museum is open year-round on limited days.

Nearby. Mandello del Lario and Lierna lie north along the shore, with the city of Lecco just to the south.

Abbadia Lariana rewards the traveller who likes a story behind the view — a silk mill, an old footpath, and a quiet swim beneath the mountains.