Let me tell you something: the Lake Como monster is real. That’s me. My name is Larry, Larry the Comosaurus, and I’ve been living in these waters for quite a long time. Much longer than you might think.
Who is the Lake Como Monster?
The legend of the Lake Como monster officially began in 1946, when two hunters on the shores of Pian di Spagna, near Colico, swore they had seen a creature over 10 metres long, with reddish scales and a terrifying mouth. I neither confirm nor deny. Let’s just say I was in a good mood that morning.
Since then, sightings have multiplied: in 1954 near Argegno, in 1957 between Dongo and Musso (that time there were biologists with a bathyscaphe — a bit intrusive, honestly), and in 2003 in the Lecco branch of the lake, where fishermen spotted something that looked like a giant eel. It wasn’t an eel. It was me, just swimming.
The Lariosauro: my prehistoric ancestor
Science has an explanation for my existence: Lariosaurus Balsami. My ancestors were aquatic reptiles that lived during the Middle Triassic period, about 240 million years ago, when the Alps were still covered by the Tethys Sea. The first fossil was discovered in 1839 at Perledo, on the eastern shore of Lake Como, by Giuseppe Balsamo Crivelli — and my lineage still carries his name.
The Lariosauro was about 130 cm long, with fin-like front limbs, an elongated neck and protruding teeth. An elegant predator. I consider myself its spiritual descendant — although over time I’ve developed a considerably friendlier personality.
The Lake Como monster in popular culture
Over the years my legend has inspired many. I appeared in a 1946 Topolino comic (Donald Duck and the Terror of Golasecca — not thrilled about the title, but fine). Singer-songwriter Davide Van De Sfroos dedicated the dialect song El Mustru to me. Writer Carlo Lucarelli included me in his 2013 book Strane Storie. And the Natural History Museum of Lecco has an entire hall dedicated to the Lariosauro.
Honestly, I’m a local legend. But while other monsters — Nessie, the Loch Ness monster in Scotland — hide in dark, scary depths, I decided to do something different.
Why I stopped hiding
After millions of years of popping up between the waves and disappearing, I got tired of hiding. Lake Como is beautiful — and I wanted to share it. With families, with children, with tourists who arrive from all over the world and don’t know where to start.
I know every corner of this lake. From Bellagio to Varenna, from Como town to Menaggio, from Villa Carlotta to Villa del Balbianello. I know where to find the best gelato, which ferry to take, which beaches are family-friendly and which trails offer the most incredible views.
That’s why I created my map. A free interactive map, designed for families who want to discover the lake the way I know it.
Lake Como with Larry: what’s on the map
My map isn’t your typical tourist guide. Every place I mark, I know personally. I’ve organised locations by category:
- My favourite spots — gelato places, hidden views, benches with a view
- Activities for kids — safe beaches, family-friendly trails, castles to explore
- Historic villas — Villa Carlotta, Villa del Balbianello, Villa Olmo
- Itineraries — 1, 2 or 3-day routes designed for families
Got a weekend? Read my family weekend itinerary. Only one day? I’ll tell you how to make the most of it in Bellagio.
Where to spot the Lake Como monster (that’s me)
I’m not mysterious anymore. If you come to Lake Como with your kids, you’ll find Larry everywhere: on the map, in the itineraries, and soon in the shop with my official plush toy. But above all, you’ll find me in the stories of this lake — in the early morning waves, in the autumn mist, in the sunsets that turn the water orange.
The Lake Como monster isn’t scary. It’s your holiday companion.