Among the cornerstones of the schooling of Italians, it cannot be denied that I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed) is a book that more than others has shaped Italian language and culture.

An anthology that, passionately studied by some and listlessly suffered by others, has been made compulsory in all Italian secondary schools for no less than 147 years and still ranks among the most important literary works of national heritage.

Set in Lombardy, the novel sees the city of Lecco as the backdrop for most of the events narrated and there is no shortage of references by Manzoni to places that, although not explicitly mentioned, were later traced by his commentators. Despite some conflicting theses, it is now possible to identify The Home of Lucia, the Church of Don Abbondio, the Castle of the Unnamed and the Convent of Fra’ Cristoforo.

So let's take a step back in time and set off on a tourist itinerary between reality and fantasy in search of Manzoni's places, wisely guided by the unforgettable characters who inhabit ‘that branch of Lake Como that bends toward south'.