Lake Como, Italy

“There are no wide fields on the banks of Como… there are no fat fields… Everything here is noble and affectionate, everything speaks of love, nothing reminds of the deformities of civilization.”
Stendhal “Parma Monastery”

The landscapes of Lake Como and its shores amaze with idyllic beauty, filled with serene peace and grandeur. Rest in harmony with untouched nature attracted many creators here – from Stendhal and Byron to Rossini and Liszt. Lake Como still attracts connoisseurs of enchanting poetic landscapes and romantic sunsets. In addition to the extraordinarily beautiful landscapes, you will find charming old cities with ancient churches, marvelous gardens and historic villas, which house luxurious hotels; restaurants serving melt-in-your-mouth “risotto con pesce persico” made from lake fish; fashion designer boutiques and shops where you can buy delightful souvenirs made by local craftsmen, as well as a huge range of activities, including boat trips on the lake, water sports,

Location and geography: Lake Como (Lago di Como), also called Lario (Lario), is located in northern Italy, in the province of Lombardy, at an altitude of 199 m, 45 km north of Milan and a 20-minute drive from Swiss Lugano. The lake consists of three branches of Como, Colico and Lecco and is surrounded by limestone and granite mountains reaching a height of 2000 m. The lake is almost 50 km long, up to 4 km wide, and the third largest lake in Italy reaches a depth of 410 m deep lake in Europe. On the coast of Lake Como there is a mild Mediterranean climate, very warm and sunny, which allows the growth of lush vegetation typical of the subtropics: palm trees, cypresses, rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, magnolias.

Cities and resorts on Lake Como:

Como– the most famous city on the lake, located in the most beautiful area on the southwestern shore, surrounded by majestic Alpine mountains. This ancient city was part of the Roman Empire since 193 BC. On the central historical square of Cavour (Piazza Cavour) rises the magnificent white stone church of Santa Maria Maggiore, built from the 14th to the 17th centuries, as well as Broletto (Broletto) – the building of the former town hall of the 13th century and the Teatro Sociale theater, which once replaced the stage of the destroyed La Rock. Also among the attractions of the city are the 12th-century Basilica of San Fedele, located on the square of the same name, where there are also several unique 400-year-old buildings; Tower of Porta Vittoria (Porta Vittoria) built in 1192, the magnificent church of the IV century San Carpoforo (San Corpoforo), the Basilica of St. Abbondio (Sant’ Abbondio) of the 11th century, decorated with amazing frescoes of the 14th century; temple – museum Tempio Voltiano, where you can see the apparatus of Alessandro Volta – the inventor of electricity; Villa Olmo (1797) with amazing frescoes inside and a wonderful marble fountain in the courtyard, and other unique monuments of architecture and history. You can also take the funicular to the top of Mount Brnute, where the observation deck offers stunning views of the lake, the city and the magnificent surrounding landscapes.
Cernobbio is an exquisite resort town with picturesque parks, winding old streets and picturesque buildings. It was here that the fictional Villa Baglianello was located, where the action of the Hollywood film by John Irwin “A Month by the Lake” was set. The most famous park in the city is D’Este with a magnificent family villa of the d’Este family, the premises of which resemble museum galleries, and on the marvelous territory of the park there is the only “floating pool” in Italy, built right on the lake. The villa houses a luxury hotel.
Bellagio (Bellagio)– Another famous city on Lake Como, which has an amazing location – between two branches – Como and Leko. This fabulous medieval town is dotted with labyrinths of cobblestone streets with beautiful old buildings. There are two historic villas in Bellagio – Villa Serbelloni, built on top of a cliff with a magnificent panorama of the lake and the Alps, and the elegant Villa Melzi, built in neoclassical style on the very shore of the harbour. In Bellagio shops you can find original products made by local artisans.
Camacina Island (Isola Comacina)– a charming, lushly forested island 1 km long and about 50 m wide. There is an old fort built in 1169 on the island. Also on Camachina every year on June 24, a colorful holiday is held – the day of St. Giovanni – with a costumed procession starting from the ruins of the S. Eufemia basilica, and stunning fireworks in the night sky.
Lenno is a picturesque town, home to the historic Villa Balbianello, built in 1787 and now a museum, as well as two churches from the 11th and 12th centuries. – San Stefano and San. Lenno is also famous for its excellent olive oil and wonderful restaurants and bars that turn into lively nightclubs on weekends.
Tremezzo– a delightful town and a popular holiday destination, famous for Villa Carlotta with its unique botanical garden, where more than 500 rare species of flora from all over the world grow on an area of ​​​​70 thousand square meters. The villa itself, whose construction began in 1690, was the residence of Princess Carlotta, wife of the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, and today the halls of the villa are decorated with a rich collection of works of art.