Varenna Cemetery – Varenna, Italy - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Varenna Cemetery

Varenna, Italy

An unusual resting place built into the hill with an amazing view of Lake Como. 

View all photos
The cemetery. bq (Atlas Obscura User)
The cemetery. bq (Atlas Obscura User)
A resting place with a view. bq (Atlas Obscura User)
One of the best views. bq (Atlas Obscura User)
The cemetery. bq (Atlas Obscura User)
71
207
Top Places in Italy
The Museum of Roman Ships at Fiumicino
Rome, Italy
San Giovanni degli Eremiti
Palermo, Italy
Papacqua Fountain
Soriano nel Cimino, Italy
 See All

Cemeteries can be some of the most fascinating places to discover while traveling. The Varenna Cemetery (Cimiterio di Varenna), located a little south of the town of Varenna on Lake Como is certainly that.

The cemetery is reached by a rarely used road that meanders into the hills. Just after the spur trail that takes you up to Castle Vezio, this resting place for hundreds unfolds in a long and narrow stretch of land carved into the hillside.

At the top, you will see the “penthouses,” or large mausoleums set into the slope. The views of Lake Como from here are spectacular. Just below are hundreds of beautiful gravesites. The openness to the elements (there are no trees or shade) and the stark statues adorning the graves make this place a beautiful and unique spot for a visit in the lakeside town.

Know Before You Go

The cemetery is a 10- to 15-minute walk south of town and is signposted.

Atlas Obscura Trips

NEW - Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia

Whimsical architecture, outstanding olive oil, and gorgeous landscapes.
Book Now
lakes graveyards cemeteries water
Community Contributors
bq
Added by
bq
Max Cortesi
Edited by
Max Cortesi
Published
August 23, 2019
Edit this listing
Make an Edit Add Photos
Nearby
Villa de Vecchi
4.71 miles
Big Bench #137
5.11 miles
Balcony of Italy (Balcone d'Italia)
14.54 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Cortenova, Italy

Villa de Vecchi

The abandoned "Ghost Mansion" was left to decay in the mountains of Northern Italy.
Civenna, Italy

Big Bench #137

Hundreds of these oversized benches have been built as an art project meant to change people's perspectives.
The view from Sighignola.
Lanzo D'intelvi, Italy

Balcony of Italy (Balcone d'Italia)

The Sighignola summit on the Swiss border offers views so breathtaking it's been named one of the most beautiful places in Italy.
Cassiglio, Italy

Ca’ Milesi

This house is adorned with a serenade macabre from the Counter-Reformation period.
Related Places
Badin, North Carolina

Graveyard Island

The final resting place of the hundreds of bodies originally buried where Badin Lake sits now.
The ruins of the Ritter Lumber Company's sawmill at Hazel Creek near Proctor.
Bryson City, North Carolina

The Lost Town of Proctor

The scant remains of this flooded historic village can be explored in one of the most remote areas of the Great Smokies.
El Salvador

Lago Coatepeque

A color-changing crater lake in El Salvador is occasionally impenetrable to sunlight.
Hays, Kansas

The Original Boot Hill Cemetery

The first graveyard named "Boot Hill" was established in Hays, Kansas, years before better known cemeteries with the same name.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web