Malgrate

Malgrate: A Dramatic History Overlooking Lake Lecco

Malgrate sits in a breathtaking panoramic position on the eastern shore of Lake Como, directly facing the city of Lecco and connected to it by the historic Azzone Visconti Bridge. While the area saw Roman settlements, its documented history begins in the 12th century during the Ten Years' War between Como and Milan. At that time, a small stronghold known as San Grato Fort stood here under the control of Como. On a terrifying night in 1126, soldiers from Lecco and Milan launched a brutal surprise attack, massacring the defenders and razing the fortress. Legend says that after this tragic event, the name Grato (meaning "Pleasant") was changed to Malgrato ("Ill-Pleasing"), eventually becoming the modern Malgrate.

Malgrate: From Tragedy to Elegance

Through the 14th and 15th centuries, the town passed between the powerful Visconti and Sforza dynasties. In 1532, it was conquered by the notorious mercenary Gian Giacomo Medici, known as il Medeghino. By the 1700s, this former fishing village had transformed into a prestigious retreat for Milan’s high society. Stunning residences from this era remain today, including Palazzo Agudio (now the Town Hall), the 18th-century Villa Bovara—later converted into a silk spinning mill—and the Palazzo Bonanomi-Recalcati. The 19th century marked the height of the industrial era, fueled by the booming silk production that defined the region.
The town’s architectural heritage is anchored by the Parish Church of St. Leonard (San Leonardo). Originally built in the 1500s with three bell towers, it was redesigned in the Neoclassical style in 1815 by the renowned architect Giuseppe Bovara. Other treasures include the 17th-century Church of St. Charles (San Carlo) al Porto and the ancient Church of St. Anthony the Abbot (Sant'Antonio Abate), featuring a magnificent Baroque facade.

Malgrate and Pietro Vassena

Malgrate is also the birthplace of the visionary inventor Pietro Vassena (1897–1967). In 1948, using his self-designed submarine, the C3 Bathyscaphe, Vassena made history by reaching a record depth of 412 meters (1,352 ft) in the deep waters between Argegno and Nesso—a feat of engineering that remains a point of local pride.