Lake Como

View of Varenna, eastern shore

Not only is Lake Como the deepest lake in Italy, it is also the one with the longest perimeter, with 185 kilometres of shoreline, following the two southern arms that give it its characteristic inverted Y shape. The town of Como lies at the end of the western arm, Lecco at the end of the eastern arm.

Presentation

Lake Como is probably the most beautiful of the great lakes of Italy, appreciated for its scenery, its elegant villas, or its small villages whose gardens of individual houses are particularly well cared for by the inhabitants. For all these qualities, it has long been frequented by the international jet set, having seen musicians and historical figures pass through, such as Byron, Versi, Foscolo, Rossini, and even Napoleon or Churchill. The town of
Como, the cinematic Villa Balbianello, and the charming village of Bellagio at the tip of the two southern arms, are three of the emblematic sites of the lake. The landscape is often impressive, with mountains sometimes plunging sheer into waters in shades of blue-green-turquoise. To the north, the peaks overlooking the lake quickly exceed 2,500 metres.The lake and its treasures can be discovered from various viewpoints, actively via hiking trails, but also for example with boat tours or crossings, in particular between Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio, located on three opposite shores but very close by water.

Sites to see at Lake Como for more information, with the Lake Como tourist map

Western shore

• Como is the main town of the lake and a pretty destination, at the southern end of the western arm. Already occupied more than 2000 years ago by the Celts and then by the Romans, it has inherited from its history many historic buildings, including the medieval Broletto Palace, the late Gothic cathedral, the basilicas of Sant’Abbondio and San Fedele, the neoclassical Temple of Volta and the Villa Olmo, arcades and Renaissance houses, etc.
  The remains of its old Baradello Castle overlook the town, and in the surroundings you can take beautiful excursions, along the Lake Como Poetry Way, a 16 km walking route passing through Como, or in the Spina Verde Park.

• On the side of Cernobbio, near Como and at the foot of Mount Bisbino, the views over the lake are magnificent. Several villas have been built on its shore, including Villa Erba at the end of the 19th century, and Villa d’Este in the 16th.

• The small village of Laglio was unknown until George Clooney bought a villa there. Further north Argegno is another welcoming lakeside village.

• The Val d’Intelvi stretches from Lake Como to Lake Lugano, on the Swiss border, between Argegno on the former and Osteno on the latter, whose summit of Sighignola at 1320 metres altitude is called the “Balcony of Italy“, offering a superb panorama.

• In the municipality of Tremezzina which brings together several villages (Ossuccio, Lenno, Tremezzo), you can see superb views around Lenno and Tremezzo. In the latter is Villa Carlotta, a superb Baroque creation. With its chapels, the Sacred Mount of Ossuccio rises opposite the islet of Comacina and its medieval remains surrounded by greenery.

• The Villa Balbianello is one of the most beautiful villas on the lake, in an enchanting spot on a small peninsula. Its charming garden facing the shore was notably the setting for filming scenes from Star Wars Episode 2 and Casino Royale.

• Menaggio, further north, is a charming and relatively peaceful village, somewhat away from mass tourism. Nearby, a beautiful hike leads to Mount Grona from where the panorama over the lakes is superb.

Central shore

• At the junction of the two southern arms of the lake, Bellagio is a pretty village, a holiday resort that was frequented by historical celebrities such as Napoleon, Liszt or Manzoni. There you can discover the beautiful site of its point, the Punta Spartivento, its historic centre, its basilica, and beautiful villas, such as Villa Serbelloni and Villa Melzi which is a neoclassical palace from the 19th^e century adorned with a beautiful English garden.

• At 1682 metres altitude, Mount San Primo is the summit of the massif rising between the two arms of the lake, the Triangolo Lariano.

• The Madonna di Ghisallo, at the top of a climb 10 km from Bellagio, was consecrated in 1948 as “the patroness of cyclists”. The Virgin is surrounded by bicycles and jerseys of famous riders.

• At Nesso, the Orrido di Nesso is a narrow gorge at the bottom of the village where the water cascades into the lake, crossed at the very end by an old bridge.

Eastern shore

• At the southern tip of the eastern arm of the lake, Lecco is one of the main towns of the lake, with its walks along the shore and its centre lively with numerous bars, terraces and restaurants. Not very touristy, you can relax there or discover beautiful views from the heights.
• Among the other villages of the eastern shore, Varenna is a charming village with very beautiful perspectives over the lake. Its historic Villa Monastero has a very beautiful botanical garden along the shore, and on the heights stands the tower of the old medieval castle of Vezio.

• At Bellano a canyon is crossed by a walkway attached to the rock that reaches a waterfall.
• Corenno Plinio is a charming fishing village that was developed in the Middle Ages, an era from which it retains buildings.
• The Piona Abbey is an ideal place to relax, on a small isolated peninsula whose Cistercian sanctuary is more than 1000 years old.
• Far to the north, at Colico the Fort Montecchio Nord which was built during the First World War has kept its gun emplacements, and not far away are the remains of the 17th-century Fort de Fuentes.

Gallery

Map

Information

• Wikipedia page: en.wikipedia.org
• Tourism portals: www.in-lombardia.it, www.lombardiafacile.regione.lombardia.it