Villas, Villages and Alpine Light on Como
Lake Como is a glacial lake in Lombardy, northern Italy, shaped like an inverted Y and framed by steep, wooded mountains with the Alps beyond. One of the deepest lakes in Europe, it is celebrated for its lakeside villas, pastel villages and the soft light that has drawn writers, composers and film-makers for generations. Its three arms meet near Bellagio, long known as the pearl of the lake, while the city of Como at the south-western tip and Lecco at the south-eastern end anchor the shoreline. The effect is of a landscape arranged for admiration.
The great villas give the lake its grace. Villa del Balbianello, on a wooded promontory at Lenno, has appeared in several films, and Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo is known for terraced gardens that flower richly in spring. Villa Melzi in Bellagio offers lakeside lawns and Japanese-style corners, while Villa Monastero in Varenna lines a long, narrow shoreline with botanical collections. Each can be reached by ferry, and many visitors plan a day around two or three of them, with lunch in a lakeside village between.
Silk Heritage, Funiculars and Lakeside Tables
Como itself is a compact, walkable city with a Renaissance and Gothic cathedral, an arcaded old centre and a long tradition of silk weaving that still shapes its shops. A short funicular ride rises from the lakefront to the hill village of Brunate, where the view takes in the whole southern basin. Elsewhere, Varenna's colour-washed houses tumble to the water, Bellagio's stepped lanes lead to artisan shops, and Menaggio is a favourite starting point for hill walks. The Sentiero del Viandante, an old route along the eastern shore, offers a quieter way to see the lake.
At the table, the lake itself is the larder. Risotto with lake perch is a signature, and missoltini, dried and salted lake shad, are a traditional speciality served with polenta. Restaurants on the water serve these beside regional cheeses and local white wines, and gelato shops line nearly every promenade. A hotel group with a lakeside property can tell the Como story through these small, specific pleasures: the ferry arrival, the terrace lunch and the evening passeggiata under the lights of the opposite shore.
Read the full Lake Como guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitLakeComo.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.