Few places are as romantic as Lake Como which is located in a valley surrounded by wooded hills and majestic mountains.
The Lake in Como is the third-largest lake in Italy. Only a half hour trip by train, or a 40Km bus ride from north of Milan.
The town of Como isn’t hilly and invites one to walk. A worth while visit is The Cathedral (Duomo). After a short walk you will arrive at the main square in town where the docks are located, and from there motorboats and speedboats are available to tour the Lake. It is a fabulous trip with the meandering coast line, and the charming ancient lakeside villas, one more imposing then the other.
Along its banks, one can see spectacular views of pastures, forests, picturesque coves and bays. Rugged and towering peaks, picturesque villages overlooking the water and beautiful villas. A breathtaking view of the lush landscaped Mediterranean gardens filled with flowers and exotic rare plants is a sight to behold.
Narrow and long, Lake Como is one of the most romantic getaways in Italy.
From the promontory of Bellagio, at the center of the lake, where the three branches meet and the climate is milder, the view sweeps across the lake on clear days, on the high basin, with the Alps in the background.
The mountains in this region are very confident mountains. They are not shy. They go straight up without any hesitation. It creates amazing backdrops for the colorful coastal towns along the shores, and like giants they separate these from the inland towns.
Boat’s are the easiest way to visit the villages or little towns, each one with its own distinct and different character.
A bench or a café along the lake’s promenade invites you to sit and take time to enjoy all that the lake and surrounding scenery has to offer. The serene atmosphere induces peaceful minds. The colors of the Italian villas, the scent of the blooming flowers, the lush vegetation and the sound of the chirping birds seem to be more vivid in the scenery of the dark marine-blue water, originating from the Lombardy glaciers.
The wide area of Lake Como offers inexhaustible things to do for tourists. It is an ideal place to vacation with your family.
Lake Como offers boat excursions, swimming, water-skiing, sailing, hiking, mountain-biking, horseback riding and day mountain excursion trips with the most breath-taking views of the lake and surrounding areas.
Bellagio, which is well known in Europe since the Renaissance is a beautiful village at the centre of the Lake Como, where the lake divides in two. It is considered the Pearl of Lake Como, one of the most beautiful Italian tourist resorts.
The beauty of Bellagio is in the panorama, since being located on the split of the lake, the view extends over a large part of it. Like many other villages around this lake, Bellagio rests on uneven ground, so the narrow picturesque cobblestone, paved alleys and stairways are constantly shifting up and down between craft shops, restaurants, bars, boutiques, and bakeries. Colorful flower beds and hanging flower pots are everywhere adorning stores, hotels, and restaurants. Wonderful old villas dating from the 18th century are the most beautiful. There are a variety of paths to walk, surrounded by trees and flowers which form the backdrop to this beautiful city.
Bellagio is completely unspoiled, and possesses the grace and charm of "old world living. A wonderful climate to relax, take part in sport or lake activities
Mount Resegone or Mount Serrada (1875 m.)
From Lecco, the most beautiful panoramic town on Lake Como, a visit to Mount Resegone is a must for those that love mountain trekking. At the foot of the mountains, the Piani d'Erna offers a superb view of the city of Lecco, and from the terrace with the cross on top of Pizzo d'Erna you arrive at the scenic views, perhaps the most beautiful that you can enjoy from the mountains. A convenient cable car and several paths and ski slopes depart from the Piani d’Erna for people who love trek and ski.
The view from the top on a clear day is impressive: the mountains and Lecco, the Brianza with its lakes, Como and Bergamo Pre-Alps, the Alps from Monviso to the Retiche.
Cernobbio, important industrial center, -here a short walk from Como, was born one of the first factories in the industrial production of silk.
From the beginning of the twentieth century it has been a very famous and popular holiday resort, with its magnificent boulevard which is a favorite destination for the Lombard upper middle class as evidenced by the large number of villas and gardens dotting the area.
The most prestigious villa is undoubtedly:
-Villa d'Este, built in 1589, in 1873 it was transformed into the Grand Hotel Villa d'Este. Inside one can see paintings and sculptures of the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. Outside a large park surrounds the Hotel, replete with fountains and statues.
Also to be visited:
-Church of St. Michele Rovenna of the eighteenth century, with a fine Baroque altar in carved wood.
-Villa Erba, built in 1898, an existing villa on the site of a medieval monastery, and is now a prestigious center for events and conferences.
-Villa Pizzo of the sixteenth century, with frescoes of the eighteenth century. Noteworthy is the large park in which it is immersed, full of trees and many plant species.
Tramezzo is noteworthy for one of the most famous villas on the Lake, Villa Carlotta. Open to the public, it is surrounded by a beautiful garden with a lovely fountain in front of the entrance to the villa, box hedges, with rare and exotic plants
Varenna, faces Bellagio in the widest point of the lake at its bifurcation, on one of the two opposite sides.
The village develops into a grid of streets that fall steeply toward the lake, where the houses are reflected in the water as in some areas of Liguria.
But also all other villages and towns of the lake worth visiting, last but not least is:
Mandello del Lario, home of Moto Guzzi since 1921, one of the most prestigious Italian manufacturer of motorcycles, well known throughout the world.
MILANO
MAGGIORE LAKE
