Livo is a charming rural village situated in the valley of the torrent Livo and surrounded by chestnut woods. Walking in the centre of the village you can notice the ancient urban structure, formed by a series of parallel roads connected by perpendicular alleys that follow the slope of the mountain. The typical rural houses are made of stone with wooden balconies and carved doors, and have facades decorated with 16th century votive frescoes. A bucolic soul that has remained intact over time, as the traditional activities related to pastoral farming still play an important role today with the breeding of sheep, goats and cattle.
The main square of the village is dominated by the New Church of San Giacomo, built in the 17th century as the new parish church. Made of exposed stone, the interior preserves several baroque altars and an altarpiece depicting Santa Rosalia. Just beyond the village centre, near the cemetery, is the splendid church of San Giacomo Vecchia, the ancient parish church documented for the first time in 1297 and rebuilt in the mid-fifteenth century. The church is flanked by an elegant bell tower and its ogival interior preserves one of the most fascinating and admired fresco cycles on the whole of Lake Como, dating back to the 16th century.
The road that leads to the village of Dangri and its characteristic stone bridge over the river Livo takes you to the Sanctuary of Sant’Anna. Built in the early eighteenth century, it is one of most important and significant expressions of popular faith of the Alto Lario. From Dangri, you can go for beautiful hikes in the mountains with routes towards the Darengo valley and the Alpine lake of the same name, and towards the wild Val di Bares. For trekking enthusiasts, Livo is located along the famous “Via dei Monti Lariani” and a short distance from the routes that meander through the woods of Monte Sasso Pelo, where you can admire the incredible Insubric Fault Line.
