Alserio stands on the banks of the lake of the same name and its deep links to water go way back in history, as revealed by its very name.

The middle part of the town’s name, *sĕr-, is in fact an Indo-European root that means “to run”, found in lots of Gaelic and Celtic words that have to do with rivers and streams. Besides, water is a true source of life for this town: for centuries fishing was its most developed and profitable economic sector, while the force of the lake water powered the mills and later the silk factories that provided work for most of the townsfolk through until the fifties.

Today, evidence of the importance of water for this welcoming, peaceful town remains with the old washing place and a mill, the latter now a teaching mill, close to the gardens on the lakeside. A walk around the lake brings you to romantic jetties and, just a short distance away, you can venture along the splendid Buerga trail, a path that takes you into the midst of the unspoilt nature here.

The past and present of farming in Alserio is told by the many historic farmhouses, namely the Cascina La Ca’, Cascina Galgiana, Cascina Ginasca and Cascina Belvedere