Perched on the hills above Como, Brunate is a charming village known as the “Balcony over the Alps” for its breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding peaks.Its origins date back to Roman times, but it was between the 19th and 20th centuries, with the construction of the funicular railway in 1894, that Brunate became a renowned tourist destination—an identity it still proudly maintains. The funicular remains the main means of reaching Como, although the more adventurous can take the scenic hiking trails that connect the village to different points in the city. Among these is the path dedicated to the Milanese poet Alda Merini, marked by signs quoting poets from various periods, commemorating the time she spent in Brunate. The village is also the starting point for striking hiking routes, such as the Strada Regia, which leads to Torno, and the Sentiero Italia, which follows the ridge of the Triangolo Lariano all the way to Bellagio.
Brunate retains a captivating Art Nouveau architectural heritage, with elegant villas built between the late 19th and early 20th centuries—remnants of its past as a holiday retreat for the Lombard upper class.Among the main attractions are the Church of Sant’Andrea; the Campari Fountain, built around 1935 by the famous beverage company as an advertising feature—now one of only three remaining in Italy; the Volta Lighthouse, dedicated to the scientist Alessandro Volta, a prominent citizen of Como who spent the first months of his life in a foster home in Brunate; and Italy’s smallest sanctuary, dedicated to Saint Rita of Cascia.