Cantù is a town in the Brianza, the hilly area between Milan and Lake Como, and it has two claims to fame that may surprise you: furniture and lace. For centuries, the craftsmen of Cantù have made fine furniture, and the town is still full of workshops and showrooms. The lace-making tradition, the pizzo di Cantù, is equally old, and the town hosts exhibitions and a lace school. And in Italy, Cantù is also known for its basketball team, which has won European titles.
On the edge of town, the Basilica of San Vincenzo in Galliano is a gem of early Romanesque architecture, consecrated in the early eleventh century, with frescoes of remarkable quality and a baptistery beside it. It is a quiet, atmospheric place, well worth a short stop.
The Brianza hills are green and rolling, covered with woods, villas and small towns, and they rise gradually towards the Alps. Lake Como is only a short ride to the north, and the roads around its southern end, towards Como and Lecco, are scenic and busy.
The riding around Cantù is a mix of urban roads and hill routes. The Brianza is densely populated, and traffic can be heavy, but the minor roads through the hills offer pleasant curves, short climbs and views of the mountains. Surfaces vary. Fuel and food are plentiful in Cantù and the surrounding towns. As a scenic stretch, the hills above the town offer glimpses of the Alps and the lakes.