Ballabio, Italian comune
Ballabio is a small commune in the province of Lecco, situated in a wide basin at the foot of the Grignetta mountain. The town contains old buildings and small squares that tell stories from long ago, while serving as a starting point for hiking and outdoor activities in the surrounding Lombard Dolomites.
Archaeologists have found signs of settlements from Etruscan and Roman times, with the name reflecting the ancient importance of the place. During the Middle Ages, the area experienced various rulers including the Sforza and Medici families as well as French and Austrian armies, until 1927 when the two historic village sections officially merged into one town.
The name Ballabio comes from words meaning 'place of goldsmiths' or 'village of huts'. The two historic districts still keep their own churches and squares that show how the community once functioned as two separate settlements with their own identities.
The town sits less than 10 kilometers from Lecco and is easily reached by car via the A4 highway or by bus. The area has no train station, so rental cars or buses from nearby airports like Malpensa, Linate, or Orio al Serio are the best options for getting here.
Two major cheese companies, Galbani and Locatelli, began in Ballabio in the late 1800s, making the town the birthplace of local cheesemaking traditions. The place is also mentioned in Alessandro Manzoni's famous novel 'The Betrothed', linking local artisan heritage with Italian literary history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
