If you take the funicular up to Brunate and stop at the arrival square, you haven’t really seen Brunate. The Brunate that has made this village an elegant destination for more than a century begins three hundred meters higher, where the hamlet of San Maurizio starts — and where our restaurant stands.
This is a story of our territory — of the Volta Lighthouse, of the Liberty villas that line the old mule track, and of the historic walk that many of our guests do before or after lunch. It’s not a commercial pitch: it’s the story of the place we chose to stand in.
The Volta Lighthouse: a 1927 tribute
The Volta Lighthouse (Italian: Faro Voltiano) stands on the summit of Monte Tre Croci, about 900 meters above sea level, in the San Maurizio hamlet of Brunate. It was built in 1927 as a tribute from the city of Como to Alessandro Volta, on the centenary of the death of the Como-born physicist who invented the electric battery.
The project was entrusted to engineer Gabriele Giussani, who chose the summit of Monte Tre Croci deliberately: the position allowed the beam to be seen not only from the lake, but also from the Po Valley and the Brianza region. The official inauguration took place on September 8, 1927, with the participation of Costanzo Ciano, then Minister of Communications.
Lighthouse specifications
- Height: 29 meters
- Structure: octagonal stone tower
- Light signal: alternating green, white, and red — the colors of the Italian flag
- Beam range: up to 40 kilometers
- Outdoor terrace: free and open access, 360-degree panorama
From sunset to dawn, to this day, the Volta Lighthouse emits its tricolor light — a small signal visible from Como, from the first basin of the lake, and on the clearest nights even from the Brianza region.
Two details about Volta that few people know
- Napoleon was so struck by the voltaic pile that he made Volta a count.
- Volta used the methane bubbling up from Lake Maggiore to feed a “perpetual flame” — a gas lighter two centuries before anyone put one on sale.
The panoramic terrace — always accessible
Something most visitors don’t know: the external terrace at the base of the Lighthouse is always open and free. The platform around the monument remains accessible at any hour of the day or night. That’s where the 360-degree panorama opens up, including:
- The first basin of Lake Como
- The Orobie Alps and the Lepontine Alps
- Monte Rosa, on the clearest days
- The Po Valley
- The Madonnina of Milan Cathedral, visible only in exceptional visibility conditions
The external terrace at the base of the tower is always accessible and free of charge: it is the highest 360-degree panoramic point of the area, at any hour of the day or night.
San Maurizio: from Hermits’ Mountain to Belle Époque Balcony
The hamlet of San Maurizio, where the Lighthouse stands — and where our restaurant stands — has a story worth telling. In past centuries it was known as “Monte degli Eremiti” (Mountain of the Hermits) for its religious retreats and convents. Between the late 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century, with the arrival of the Como-Brunate Funicular (inaugurated in 1894), San Maurizio transformed into one of the most elegant resort destinations in Lombardy.
The upper middle class from Como and Milan came here for the summer, building Liberty-style villas with floral decorations, turrets, wrought iron railings, and panoramic gardens. Some historical studies describe San Maurizio as a “Belle Époque balcony over the Alps” — and the image fits perfectly: period architecture, panoramic position, the quiet of a place not yet reached by mass tourism.
The walk from the funicular to the Lighthouse
The classic route starts from the upper station of the Como-Brunate Funicular and follows the “Via Mulattiera per San Maurizio“, a historic cobblestone path that crosses the hamlet and reaches the Lighthouse.
| Length | about 1.8 km |
| Elevation gain | about 200 meters uphill |
| Average time | 60-75 minutes |
| Difficulty | easy, family-friendly |
| Surface | historic cobblestone and asphalt |
This isn’t a sport hike. It’s a historic promenade through Liberty villas, churches, gardens and panoramic views. In spring, wisteria cascades from the villa walls; in autumn, foliage frames every perspective. The best light for photography is early morning or late afternoon.
Alternative route from Como
For more experienced hikers it’s possible to reach the Lighthouse directly from Como without using the funicular, following the Salita San Donato from the Geno district. The route passes the Hermitage of San Donato, a 15th-century former Franciscan convent, with a total elevation gain of about 650 meters and a hiking time of approximately 2.5 hours.
Our restaurant, at the foot of the Lighthouse
We’re a few minutes on foot from the Volta Lighthouse. We didn’t choose the location by chance: San Maurizio has always been the area of Brunate’s family-run trattorias — the ones that, unlike the tourist-oriented venues clustered around the funicular arrival square, serve traditional Lombard cuisine with patience, in the portions and the timing of home cooking.
Many of our guests walk to the Lighthouse before or after lunch. Some stop by mid-morning for a coffee, climb up to the Lighthouse, and come back for lunch. Others come down after sunset, having seen the tricolor light switch on. The route has its own rhythm, and we are one of its natural stops.
This isn’t a marketer’s advice. It’s the advice of people who work in this hamlet every day, year after year.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the Volta Lighthouse from MamaGina Brunate?
We are about two hundred metres from the Volta Lighthouse, inside the San Maurizio hamlet. It’s reachable on foot in a few minutes from our restaurant.
How do you reach the Volta Lighthouse from the funicular?
From the upper station of the Como-Brunate Funicular, follow the Via Mulattiera per San Maurizio, a cobblestone route of about 1.8 km with 200 meters of elevation gain. Average walking time 60-75 minutes.
Is the Lighthouse terrace open to the public?
The external terrace at the base of the Lighthouse is always accessible, free of charge, and is the highest 360-degree panoramic point of the area.
When is the best time to walk to the Lighthouse?
From April to October. In spring for the wisteria on the Liberty villas; in autumn for the foliage; in winter on clear days when Monte Rosa and the snow-capped Alps are most visible.
Can the walk be done with children?
Yes, the route is rated as easy and is suitable for families with children. Hiking strollers with large wheels can manage it; urban strollers are not recommended due to the cobblestone surface.
When you come to visit us
Our restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. If you’re planning a day on Lake Como and want to include the Volta Lighthouse and the walk among the Liberty villas of San Maurizio, we’re happy to share advice on the route, suggestions on the best times, or simply cook you something good before or after your visit to the monument.