Without a novel to tell about it, there is no city. In Lecco, the literary dimension of “The Betrothed”, the masterpiece by Alessandro Manzoni, is so intense that it is hard to separate the narrative from reality.

It takes place among the colourful fronts of the houses of the village of Pescarenico, on the banks of the river Adda, the only place named explicitly in the novel, or among the manuscripts, paintings, and first editions kept in Villa Manzoni, The author’s neoclassical residence, the most visited literary museum in Lombardy. Or on the lake on board the Lucie, the old boats dedicated to the heroine of the grandiose saga created by Manzoni. In every site, the echo of a story. Astory that is told every year between October and November during the event called “Lecco Città dei Promessi Sposi”. A journey not to be missed, from the 19th century to the present, between writing and landscape.

Theatre, dance and classical music. For a jazz concert or a play by a famous author. The destination is the Teatro della Società. The façade of the building inaugurated in 1844 betrays the intentions of the architect Giuseppe Bovara: to erect a smaller Teatro alla Scala on the lake.

In the cabinet of wonders. Even for those who know the city well, there is always something to discover. The Museo di Storia Naturale in Palazzo Belgiojoso is a real curiosity. In addition to housing a fossil of “Lariosaurus”, the only dinosaur of Lake Como, the museum maintains its original 19th century scientific rigor in the setup of the nine rooms that compose the exhibition.

Climbing to the mountaintops. San Martino, Grigna, Resegone: In town, the mountains are so close you can almost touch them. The deep relationship between Lecco and mountaineering can be experienced at high altitude or discovered in two museums. In the Torre Viscontea, following in the footsteps of local climbers, like the Lecco “Ragni” who since 1946 have climbed the Grignetta in their red sweaters. And in the Palazzo delle Paure, in the Osservatorio Alpinistico Lecchese, where plastic models, touchscreens and even a climbing wall offer a first virtual glimpse of the mountain. Lecco between mountain and sky.

Pure adrenalin. Lecco offers this as well: a competition to test yourself without taking yourself too seriously. It’s the “Scigamatt”, a hurdle race held every month of September since 2010, which transforms Lecco into a set of “Jeux Sans Frontières”. On a race track that changes every year, the contestants jump over 20 tons of hay bales, nets, tyres, water and mud. Recommended equipment: a carefree spirit and sprightly legs.

From the locations associated with Alessandro Manzoni to the noble profile of Monte Resegone, a neoclassical theatre, a cabinet of curiosities, and the splendid lake. These are just a few of the reasons to love Lecco