No matter where you go, you’ll always be able to see the bell tower of the Basilica di San Nicolò, which is also known as “il Matitone” [The Large Pencil].

The tower was recently opened for guided tours, with the stunning view of the city well worth the 380-step, 96-metre climb. It will act as your compass as you explore what is a compact historic centre, walking from square to square and wandering along the beautiful Lungolario lakefront path.

Before you get to Piazza Garibaldi, with its statue of the famous general and the neoclassical Teatro della Società, it’s worth pausing to take in the elegant Piazza XX Settembre.

The delis around the old market square and along the adjacent streets are the perfect place to stock up on local delicacies: Terre Lariane IGT wines, Torta Miascia, cheeses and cured meats with DOP certification and the delicate Laghi Lombardi extra-virgin olive oil. At either end of the piazza sit two historic buildings. The first is the Torre Viscontea, the only medieval fortification to survive the urban planning modifications of the 18th Century and now a museum.

The second, meanwhile, is the Palazzo delle Paure, built in an eclectic, neo-medieval style. It now houses temporary exhibitions and the Lecco Museum Association’s Permanent Collection of Contemporary Art, featuring work by some of the greatest Italian artists of the 20th century, including Enrico Baj and Mimmo Rotella.

Since 2016, the Palazzo delle Paure has also hosted the Lecco Mountaineering Exhibition, which serves as a basecamp for thrilling virtual climbs. It’s great for both adults and children, with multimedia installations which let you relive some of the events that put Lecco on the map.