On the border of Italy and Switzerland in the picturesque region of Lombardy at the foot of the Alpine mountains lies Lake Como, amazing in its beauty. For centuries, Lake Como has inspired writers, artists, composers, filmmakers. This place was also chosen by many celebrities of our time: George Clooney, Madonna, Ronaldinho and others.
Now Lake Como is a recognized center of Italian tourism. Numerous small towns and villages with narrow streets, luxurious villas and medieval castles, traditional Italian cuisine, paradise landscapes and entertainment for every taste - this is what this region boasts of.
Choosing a place to stay on Lake Como is not easy: each town is beautiful in its own way. We already wrote about the largest city that gave the name to the whole lake - the city of Como and its attractions. Today Blogoitaliano offers to visit 5 more equally beautiful and picturesque towns along the coast.
Lecco
Lecco is located in the southeast of Lake Como, where the lake itself flows smoothly into the Adda River. He is famous for his Villa Manzoni, where the Italian writer drew inspiration for his novel The Betrothed; their palaces, the most popular of which is the Belgioiso Palace; its ancient church of St. Nicholas of the XVIII century; four bridges, thrown over the channel of the turbulent river, as well as beautiful streets, buried in verdure oleanders and cypresses.
Lecco - one of the largest cities in Lake Como
Entertainment for every taste will be found in Lecco and outdoor enthusiasts. It has excellent ski and climbing routes, picnic spots stretch out on picturesque peaks. Dungeon lovers will enjoy a walk to the Karst Leaden Cave. And on the chic surface of the lake you can go windsurfing and yachting.
Bellagio
If you look at Lake Como from a height, it becomes clear that it looks like an inverted letter Y, stretched from north to south. The Bellagio is located right at the intersection of the three branches of Lake Como in the most picturesque place. The strategic value of this corner was appreciated even during the Roman Empire. Back in the V century. BC. defensive fortifications were built here. However, later the protective function of Bellagio was lost.
Villa Melzi in Bellagio - one of the finest works of architecture of the XIX century
The picturesqueness of this place was appreciated by the cream of European society, who began to build luxury villas here. Villa Melzi, built in the 19th century by order of the Vice President of the Italian Republic Francesco Melzi, and Villa Serbelloni, whose building appeared in Bellagio in the 15th century, are especially famous.
Both villas feature exquisite parks, gently descending directly to the lake. Incidentally, Villa Serbelloni is also an exquisite 5-star hotel, known for more than a century far beyond Italy. Despite the fact that the hotel prices are not cheap, there are no free rooms in the season 2-3 months before arrival.
There are several ancient churches in this small resort town. The oldest - the Basilica of San Giacomo dates from the XI century. No less interesting are the churches of San Giorgio and San Giovanni.
In addition, it is a city of romantics, narrow streets, old houses and wrought iron fences. No wonder it was Bellagio who chose the famous composer Ferenc Liszt for his honeymoon. Since then, celebrating a honeymoon here is considered the key to the beginning of a prosperous family life.
Menaggio
Menaggio is a quiet cozy town located very close to the elite Bellagio. The successful location near the mountains, hiding the cold winds, created favorable conditions for the growth of exotic cultures. Numerous villas and the picturesque lake promenade are surrounded by greenery.
The majestic mountains of Menaggio create a favorable climate for Mediterranean vegetation
Menaggio is not as famous as his neighbor. Nevertheless, there is a harmony between pure Italian color and the availability of tourist attractions. In addition to walking along the coast, vacationers are offered numerous mountain routes to Plesio and Brele, at an altitude of 785 m above sea level, the picturesque mountain park Val Sanagra, as well as to the peak of Grona (1400 m), which offer stunning views of the lake and surroundings.
Varenna
In addition to the towns, Lake Como has numerous picturesque villages. Varenna is considered to be the most famous among tourists, apparently because it is located directly opposite Menaggio and Bellagio described above and is connected with them by regular ferry service.
Varenna surprises at first sight with its colorful houses
The main attraction of Varenna is the medieval center, one of the best preserved in Lombardy. Here you should definitely look at the medieval churches of the XIV-XVII centuries, the villas of Chepressi and Monastero, the museum of Luigi Scanagatta and the ruins of the castle of Vecio. Great fun will be a boat trip to neighboring towns and villages.
The view of Lake Como from Vecio Castle is simply mesmerizing
Colico
Our review of the interesting tourist cities of Lake Como - the town of Colico, located in the northern part of the lake, will end. It is here that the world famous abbey of Pion is located - one of the most beautiful monasteries in northern Italy. The main church of the abbey was built in the distant XI century, later it was repeatedly completed and rebuilt.
Peony Abbey in Colico - the most romantic landmark of northern Italy
Of the sights of Colico are also known forts of Fuentes and Montecchio. Unlike Fuentes, built in the XVII century and to this day, preserved only in the form of ruins, Montecchio was built during the First World War and is preserved in excellent condition.
In addition to cultural attractions, here you can find modern entertainment: surfing, kitesurfing, tennis courts, an excellent beach.
How to get to Lake Como cities
First of all, you need to fly to Milan, where Malpensa Airport is closest to Lake Como. You can buy plane tickets here:
Further, there are several options:
- go to the destination by public transport with transfers;
- rent a car at the airport.
Let's consider each of them in more detail.
Along Lake Como by public transport
Almost any town on the east coast of the lake can be reached by electric train from Milan. They depart from Milan Central Station almost hourly. Ticket prices start at 4.80 Euros, and the road to Como with the fastest route takes just over 30 minutes. It is enough to get to Como, Lecco or Varenna, and then change to a bus or water transport.
If you get confused, you can visit Como as part of an individual excursion. A trip to Como is considered one of the most popular excursions from Milan. In more detail about the trip and the guide Oksana, which conducts her, you can read in our article the 5 most popular excursions in Milan in Russian.
Along the lake on a rented car
You can get to Como on a rented car. It will cost quite inexpensively: about 70 euros for 7 days. The car can be picked up at the airport and returned at the end of the trip in the same place. The most popular car rental service in Europe is Rentalcars: in fact, it is a price comparison service with the possibility of booking. The site has a version in Russian. Blogoitaliano already wrote in more detail about the service, as well as the features of traveling around the Apennines, in the article Rent a car in Italy: everything you need to know when booking a car.
In addition, by car you can drive along the entire coast, seeing many no less interesting towns: Tremezzo, Cernobbio, Argegno and others. And the ferry service in the Varenna-Bellagio-Menaggio triangle will allow you to quickly and easily transport a car from one coast to another.
Other related articles:
- Excursions in Milan in Russian: 5 most popular
- Milano Centrale: Milan Central Station
- Milan: how to get from Malpensa airport to the city center
- Lake Como - outdoor activities for adventure lovers
- Lake Como - a source of inspiration
Photos by: Brian Hillegas, Martin Jansen, Pieter Wolthoorn, davide @re
