Medieval Castle Visit with Exclusive Views, Lake Como

Step beyond the usual sightseeing route with private access to Castello Baradello, an enduring—and watchful—symbol of Como. Your experience begins with a scenic walk through Spina Verde Regional Park, where wooded trails lead steadily uphill to the medieval fortress. Once there, the doors open exclusively for your visit, giving you time to explore the historic walls, climb the Time Tower Museum, and step onto the panoramic terrace for sweeping views over Como, the southern reaches of the eponymous lake, and the surrounding plains.

From Piazzale Camerlata, where you'll meet your guide, it's an easy walk through a small section of Spina Verde Regional Park, a protected green space that overlooks the city. The roughly 1,410-foot (430 m) ascent follows forested paths and gentle switchbacks that gradually trade city streets for birdsong, woodland shade, and views that open up across the Lake Como landscape. Nearing Baradello Hill, you'll see the ruins of Castello Baradello rise above the trees and soon discover the importance of its strategic position, history, and connections to famous figures once inside. 

Built atop earlier fortifications in the 12th century (and, before that, Como's original Comum Oppidum settlement), you'll step inside the tower for a closer look at the leftover Byzantine-era defensive walls as you make your way up the Time Tower Museum. Here, exhibits trace the castle's changing role over the centuries from the first millennium BCE to the present day. But the highlight of the day's experience comes at the castle's highest peak: sweeping 360-degree panoramas unfold from a wraparound terrace across Como, the southern basin of its lake, the Brianza plain, and, on clear days, distant Alpine peaks.

Whether you visit Castello Baradello on an energizing morning walk, during the warm glow of a sunset, or under the blinking stars at midnight, the setting offers charmed views from a unique landmark.