Take a guided tour of the villa, the former home of traveller Guido Monzino, and then enjoy a stroll along the shaded path that leads back to Lenno. If it looks at all familiar, it is because you will have seen it in James Bond’s Casino Royale. Hop off at Lenno, and catch a taxi boat service to the magnificent Villa del Balbianello, a spectacular mansion with impeccably manicured grounds set on a promontory that juts out into the lake. Alternatively, catch a boat north from Como’s jetty (steamers make for a particularly romantic trip, although they are rather slow the hydrofoil services speed the journey up substantially). Enjoy a stroll along its pedestrianised cobbled streets lined with elegant boutiques and restaurants, and don’t miss the Duomo, a blend of Gothic and Renaissance architectural features.įrom Como, drive up the western shore along the narrow lakefront road – it’s a gorgeous stretch, passing through pretty lakefront towns offering lovely views. Start the day in Como, the provincial capital, a graceful town that was for centuries Italy’s capital of silk production. Though famous spots such as pretty Bellagio still pull in the majority of visitors, the lake has retained its authenticity, with plenty of sleepy fishing villages, such as Laglio, Torno and Nesso, home to rustic, family-run trattorias serving up traditional hearty fare, including risotto con persico (risotto with perch). Pliny the Elder, author of the first encyclopaedia, was born here, while 19th-century soprano Giuditta Pasta is known to have entertained composers Bellini and Donizetti in her lakefront residence on the eastern shore. Smart hotels and expensive boats aside, Lake Como is rich in culture, with opulent villas that once belonged to artists, writers, opera singers and explorers. Most recently, Carrie Symonds popped here for a holiday with son Wilfred and friends. Milanesi pop here for the day for a breath of fresh air and to soak up the fabulous vistas, while international visitors – the Clooneys, the Kennedys – have long been drawn by the grand lakefront hotels and the elegant mahogany Riva boats that zip along the lake’s deep blue waters. A one-hour drive north of Milan, Lake Como is the most glamorous of Italy’s lakes, hemmed in by the snow-capped Alps with picture-perfect villages on the water.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |