Entering “Orrido di Bellano” it is possible to see a three-storey tower, with a pentagonal plan, overlooking the Pioverna stream. It is today known as the “Ca’ del Diavol”, the dialectal Italian name of “House of the Devil”: the murals on the highest area of the museum show indeed the devil and some other mythological figures. Moreover, some myths represent it as the location of many satanic rituals, orgiastic parties, and meetings.
Ca’ del Diavol has just been refurbished and its three levels, also with the help of some multimedia exhibit, are meant to lead the visitor through the history of Bellano’s origins. First of all, the visitor is welcomed by the historical figure of Sigismondo Boldoni, a famous citizen of Bellano. The first level, the lowest, is all about history: it presents the geological formation and composition of the Orrido di Bellano and Lake Como’s territory, mentioning the importance of Pioverna river’s waters and its touristic discovery.
The second floor, still presented by Sigismondo Boldoni, speaks the legend: as if it was magic, a large book tells the story of “Pesa Vegia”, the most ancient and important historical re-enactment of the entire area. Finally, the third and last floor is about the journey. Up-to-date VR technologies allow the visitor to literally travel around the territory: starting from Ca’ del Diavol, it goes up following the Pioverna river until it reaches the canyon, it continues through Valsassina and then reaches the high peak of the Grigna mountain. The journey finishes then making the visitor “fly” over Lake Como and coming back to the museum.
