Chiavenna

A visit to Chiavenna today, about 10 miles north of Lake Como. Chiavenna is overlooked by the mountains which rise up to surround the town. We had a walk around the town followed by lunch and another walk.

The photograph shows the Palazzo Balbiani, originally the headquarters of the counts of the same name. Destroyed in 1525 the building was restored first in the 1700s its actual appearance dates from the 1930s.

The centre of the town is pedestrianised, there are many old buildings, now mostly expensive boutiques, cafes etc. The town has a very different "feel" to the central part of Lake Como and the visitors seem to be largely German speaking.