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Mezzegra trip planner
The site of Mussolini's last stand on Lake Como
(Photo by Johnnyb11)
Just north of Lenno on Lake Como, in the town of Mezzegra, take a left at the main intersection in town (signposted for Mezzerba, Bonzango, Giulino, and Pola), then immediately take the left fork, which is Via 24 Maggio.
Two and a half blocks along, on the right, is the gated entrance to Villa Belmonte at no. 14, marked by two long-stemmed flowers in black-and-white pebble dashing decorating the sliver of driveway before the metal gate.
Here, a black cross marks the spot where Benito Mussolini was shot and killed (along with his lover Claretta Petacci) by partisans, marking the last stand—last cower, really—of the Fascist dictator's rule over Italy.
Actually, he wasn't really the ruler of Italy at the time. At this point in Mussolini's rapidly failing career Italy had already become an ally of the Allies, and Mussolini was merely the Nazi puppet ruler of the short-lived Republic of Salò, headquartered on nearby Lake Garda.
Why was he on Lake Como to begin with? The Swiss border is just on the other side of the mountains from Como's western shore. Mussolini was trying to escape into Switzerland—where he had lived (illegally) as a youth to escape (get this) Italian military service—when he was captured and killed.
Planning your trip to Mezzegra
- Hotels on Lake Como
• Hotels in Como (Venere, Booking)
• Hotels in Bellagio (Venere, Booking)
• Hotels in Menaggio (Venere, Booking)
• Hotels in Tremezzo (Venere, Booking)
• Hotels in Varenna (Venere, Booking)
• Hotels in Lecco (Venere, Booking)
• Hotels in Domaso (Venere, Booking)How to get to Mezzegra: You really do need a car for this one—though I suppose hard-core history fans and World War II buffs (who, along with wacky journalists, are likely the only ones willing to seek this out) could take a bus. Just hop off at that main intersection—a three-minute ride from either Lenno or Tremezzo—and hoof it here. (Or simply grab a taxi from Tremezzo.) - How to get around Lake Como: If you don't take a tour or have a rental car, the easiest way is by bus (www.sptlinea.it) or by boat (www.navigazionelaghi.it). Buses are a little cheaper and more frequent, but Lake Como ferries are faster and way, way more scenic—especially since many of those amazing villas with their fabulous gardens are protected behind high walls on the landlubbing side—but from the water, you get a full-on view.
Related pages
- Nearby: Lenno, Villa Balbianello, Tremezzo
- More on the Republic of Salò (on Lake Garda) and the end of Mussolini
- Lake Como homepage
- Other Italian lakes: Garda, Maggiore, Iseo, Orta, Lugano, Idro, Varese
- Other destinations in Lombardy
www.lakecomo.org
Hotels on Lake Como (Venere, Booking)
• Hotels in Como (Venere, Booking)
• Hotels in Bellagio (Venere, Booking)
• Hotels in Menaggio (Venere, Booking)
• Hotels in Tremezzo (Venere, Booking)
• Hotels in Varenna (Venere, Booking)
• Hotels in Lecco (Venere, Booking)
• Hotels in Domaso (Venere, Booking)
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This material was last updated March 2011. All information was accurate at the time.
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