Museo Barca Lariana
Museum of the nautical tradition of Lake Como in a 19th-century former silk mill, with more than four hundred historic boats, engines and onboard objects.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The association “La Raccolta della Barca Lariana” was founded in 1978 on the initiative of a group of friends who wanted to safeguard the nautical traditions of Lake Como. The museum opened in Pianello del Lario in 1982 and had been closed to the public since 2000, because the building no longer met European standards.
In 2018 the museum reopened in renovated premises with an expanded collection. It is housed in a former 19th-century silk mill overlooking the lake and is run by the Fondazione Museo Barca Lariana, a non-profit foundation in the third sector (Terzo settore).
The route unfolds over thirteen rooms and nineteen thematic areas and includes more than four hundred boats: working boats, gondolas, fishing, hunting and smugglers’ boats, motorboats, sailing and rowing boats, together with engines, documents and onboard objects. Among the themes stand out the steamboat Nibbio, linked to steam navigation on the lake, and the regatta of 1851.
Highlights
- More than 400 historic boats, from working boats to racing motorboats
- Sala Riva with models from the Riva boatyard
- Sala Motori Fuoribordo with more than 80 historic outboard engines
- Sala Gondole, Sala Vele and Sala Belle Époque
- The steamboat Nibbio and the history of steam navigation
- Outdoor area with three boats viewed from a raised walkway
Permanent exhibitions
- Sala Riva – Room devoted to the motorboats of the Riva boatyard.
- Sala Motori Fuoribordo – Collection of more than eighty historic outboard engines.
- Il Battello Nibbio – Space dedicated to the steamboat Nibbio and the origins of steam navigation on Lake Como.
- Founded
- 1982
- Operated by
- Fondazione Museo Barca Lariana
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5visitors under 21, off-duty military personnel and police officers |
| Children & teens | €5free up to age 5 · Under-21s with reduced ticket. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for accompanied people with disabilities. |
| Groups (15+ people) | –Visits outside opening hours for groups of at least 15 people, by appointment. |
| School groups | €5 |
| Personal guide on request (fixed rate) | €160For individuals, groups or events. |
Always free for children under 6, accredited journalists and residents of Pianello del Lario. Tickets can also be bought online. Card payments are accepted.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is almost entirely accessible to people with reduced mobility, with a lift and dedicated toilets. A wheelchair is available on request.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
- Family tours & workshops
The museum is suitable for children; educational guided visits and workshops differentiated by age are offered for schools, parish groups, summer camps and associations.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus line C110 (Como – Argegno – Menaggio – Colico), changing at Menaggio from Como; scheduled lake ferry service, for example from Lezzeno, Bellagio, Menaggio, Varenna, Bellano and Dervio.
By car
Free parking
Free public car park outside the museum; on-site parking for cars and coaches is available on request at +39 0344 87235.
By car along Via Regina (SP 583) on the western shore of the lake; the entrance is visible from the road. The museum has a private mooring for boats, which must be booked in advance.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi; air conditioning in the rooms. The museum can arrange catering or recommend a partner restaurant.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
The museum's spaces are available for weddings and corporate events.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography is permitted, and the museum welcomes photos being shared on social media. |
| Good to know | Indicative visit duration 1.5 to 2 hours. Free audio guides and multimedia aids along the route; personal guide on request. Educational visits and age-appropriate workshops are offered for schools, parish groups, summer camps and associations. Animals are admitted. The museum archive can be consulted by prior arrangement with the management. |
