This town in Upper Brianza borders on the Valassina valley (from which it is separated by the Vallategna waterfall), situated in the Ravella Valley and surrounded by mountains: Cornizzolo (known as Curnisciöö in the local dialect), Corni di Canzo (Còrni or Curunghèj), Barzaghino (Barzaghìn) and Scioscia (Sciòscia). The town has two rivers: the Ravella (Ravèla), along which the old town developed, and the torrential Lambro (Lambar) on the western outskirts, which comes from the neighbouring Valassina. There are also numerous springs in the nearby mountains, and a lake, Lake Segrino, which it shares with Eupilio and Longone al Segrino. The Canzo area features not one but three separate natural areas protected under European law.

The completion of the Milan-Asso railway in the early 1900s (joining the Niguarda Road) cemented the town’s link with the city of Milan, whose inhabitants had been visiting Canzo as a holiday destination from the late 1700s (numerous neoclassical villas and the Teatro Sociale date back to this period). Continuing tourism still keeps this link with the Lombard capital strong today.

During the 1900s, Canzo’s long-standing steel-making tradition turned to scissor manufacturing, for which Canzo became an important centre, although until the middle of the century the economy was mostly agricultural. The station at Canzo was opened in 1922, with the opening of the Erba-Asso railway.