With a population of 33 people, it was considered the smallest of any comune (municipality) in Italy – in an area of 13.8 square kilometres (5.3 sq mi).

[3] For this record, it competes with the comune (municipality) of Pedesina, which in the past years had even fewer inhabitants.

Morterone borders the following municipalities: Ballabio, Brumano, Cassina Valsassina, Cremeno, Lecco, Moggio, and Vedeseta.

[4] Since it lies on the eastern slope of Mount Resegone, in a lush and unspoilt natural basin surrounded by valleys, it would derive its Latin name mortarium (a wooden or stone bowl in which grass, roots, etc.

Morterone is situated at the foot of the Pizzo of the same name (a peak that is part of the Resegone), in an area of woods where you can walk along mountain paths.