This small green area owned by the Lorla family, wealthy merchants from Lake Maggiore who in the late sixteenth century settled in Bellano and other towns of the Lake Como area. In Bellano the Lorlas had a beautiful palazzo built not far from Piazza Santa Marta and, over the years, particularly thanks to one member of the family, Agostino Lorla, a splendid garden was laid out as well. A document of 1816 shows the garden plan, with large Italian Garden style compartments plus a woodland area near its perimeter.
Over the years, also due to inheritance matters, the palazzo and the garden were split, the first becoming an integral part of the town, and the second being fragmented and mostly donated to the Parish of Bellano that had it demolished to build the Oratory in its place. Currently, the City of Bellano is developing a project to enhance the Lorla Park by introducing a number of walkways connecting the new Gorge route to the Church of San Nicolao, setting up a botanic garden, and restoring the old tower. These additions will highlight the naturalist features of the park offering locals and tourists access to a beautiful green area with an illustrious past.
