Palazzo delle Paure, Art museum and observatory in central Lecco, Italy
Palazzo delle Paure is a four-story building in neo-medieval style on Piazza XX Settembre in Lecco, recognizable by its tower with triple-arched windows. The building spreads its collections across several floors, combining rotating art exhibitions with a permanent space devoted to the mountaineering history of the area.
The building was erected in 1905 to serve as the local headquarters for customs and tax administration. When that role ended in 1964, the city repurposed it as a public space for art and alpine heritage.
The name "Palazzo delle Paure" translates literally to "Palace of Fears," a nod to the dread locals once felt when summoned here for tax matters. Today the building hosts art exhibitions that bring together local and nationally known Italian artists.
The building sits directly on the central Piazza XX Settembre in Lecco, making it easy to reach on foot from most parts of the town center. It is generally open during the day, and the floors are connected by an interior staircase that makes moving between the different collections straightforward.
The third floor holds the Osservatorio Alpino di Lecco, set up by the Lecco section of the Club Alpino Italiano, displaying equipment, maps and personal objects from local climbers. This collection is one of the few in northern Italy that documents regional climbing history in this level of detail.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
