Rent a holiday apartment in Osteno-claino

Osteno lies on the southeastern shore of Lago Ceresio. Osteno has a lakeside bathing area, while two waterways meet in the landscape: the Torrente Lirone and the Telo converge and plunge into the Orrido di Osteno. The Torrente Santa Giulia drops around 70 metres to the lake and contributed to the formation of the seven Grotte di Rescia over millions of years. A holiday apartment in Osteno therefore provides clear starting points for days by the water, in nature and among distinctive rock formations.

Holiday apartment in Osteno: lakeshore, caves and culture

Experience the Grotte di Rescia in practice

A minimum duration of 30 minutes is recommended for a visit to the Grotte di Rescia. Guided tours of the Grotte di Rescia are available daily by prior reservation and last 60 to 90 minutes. There are two car parks at the Grotte di Rescia: an unpaved car park on the provincial road about 20 metres from the entrance and another at the Grotte di Rescia campsite about 100 metres from the caves. During the visit, 14 information panels explain the distinctive features of the site and the rocks, as well as its history and geological formation. The circular route to Alpe di Claino begins at the Grotte di Rescia campsite just before the village.

Art and local history in Claino

The Borgo Dipinto Claino is an open-air museum of art, history and architecture. You can follow the tour on site using an app for scanning QR codes. Claino’s historic centre also features a cycle of Renaissance graffiti on the façades of the houses. The graffiti at Via alla Fontana 4 depict Petrarch’s triumphal processions and are dated to 1535. Those wishing to combine art and local history will find a variety of impressions for planning their day in the borgo and historic centre.

Churches, frescoes and a Madonna sculpture

The Church of San Vincenzo was consecrated on 3 August 1510. The Oratorio di Santa Maria delle Grazie in Barclaino is richly decorated with stucco and paintings. The Church of Santi Pietro e Paolo in Osteno contains a Madonna sculpture by Andrea Bregno di Righeggia.

Walks and active excursions

A 35-minute walk connects the Borgo Dipinto Claino with the Oratorio di Santa Giulia and offers panoramic views of Lago Ceresio. The Oratorio di Santa Giulia contains six frescoes framed by stucco surrounds, depicting episodes from the martyrdom of Saint Giulia. Sport fishing is possible at the mouth of the Torrente Telo in Claino con Osteno within a radius of 50 metres. The canyoning descent through the Lirone runs between Claino and Osteno and is 1,200 metres long. The route “Claino Santa Giulia Campo 1 Campo 2 Alpe di Claino” is designated for hiking planning.

When choosing your holiday apartment or holiday house in Osteno, you can determine the focus of your stay: lakeshore and bathing areas for days by the water, the Grotte di Rescia for nature and geology, the borgo and churches for art and history, or walks, hiking routes, sport fishing and canyoning for physical activity. This allows you to plan your accommodation around the daily rhythm that suits your personal interests.

For more travel ideas, you can also explore Dongo, Dascio, San Fedele Intelvi, Valmorea, Montorfano, Sormano, Osteno and Albiolo.

For the higher-level travel overview: Como.