The municipality of Mezzegra consists of six villages: Bonzanigo, Giulino, Mezzegra, Mugnano, Pola and Azzano, the largest of the six and the most recently developed. But the word "recent" is really a euphemism since the village dates back to the early 18th century, and the others are even older. The most important monument, a testimonial to the golden age between the 17th and 18th centuries, is the Baroque church of S. Abbondio. It is called the "new" church so as not to confuse it with the older one dating back to around 1100, which is thought to have been the first church built in the community. Several centuries later, Mezzegra entered the annals of modern history: on 28 April 1945 Benito Mussolini and Claretta Petacci were shot in front of the gateway to Villa Belmonte on the road from Azzano to the church of S. Abbondio, in the neighbourhood of Giulino. European history singled out this small village on the shores of Lake Como as the place which marked the end of an era. Comunita' Turistica Centro Lago di Como For Information: Viale Giovanni Polvani - 23829 - Varenna Tel./Fax. ++39-341-815232 mezzegra@fromitaly.net