Lake Como

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Lake Como [1] is situated in Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is part of the Italian Lake District. Popular with visitors for well over 100 years for it's combination of fresh air, water, mountains and good weather, it's still worth a visit.

[edit] Understand

The Lake is shaped rather like an inverted 'Y', with two 'legs' starting at Como in the South-West and Lecco in the South-East, which join together half way up and the lake continues up to Colico in the North. The first few kilometres of the 'legs' at the southern end of the lake are relatively flat, but Lake Como becomes more mountainous as you head northwards into the Alps.

The area around Lake Como, or "Lago di Como" in Italian, is pretty characteristic. It has a kind of flair and sense of history that tends to impress its visitors in a sense deeper than only from a touristic point of view. It has been appreciated for its beauty and uniqueness for ages, and even as early as the Roman Times. Its atmosphere and natural surroundings have been the inspiration for an important part of the creation of Naboo, in the Star Wars movies. (In the same way as the atmosphere in Tozeur and Matmata have been recreated in Episode IV, "A New Hope")

[edit] Cities

  • Como - At the southern end of the lake, the lake's main town is a good base and although not as attractive as some of the other towns, it remains an elegant resort.
  • Tremezzo - Beautiful little town, right across from Bellagio. Main attraction is Villa Carlotta with its splendid botanical garden
  • Menaggio - The main town on the Western Shore, it's an attractive town and note as touristy as Bellagio and Varenna opposite. It has a Youth Hostel (but it's often full at weekends).
  • Bellagio - Very attractive town at the junction of the two 'legs' of the lake. Can be expensive.
  • Varenna - Another attractive town on the Eastern shore opposite Mennagio and Bellagio. Worth visiting for the attractive and relaxing gardens of Villa Cipresi.
  • Colico - nice views at the top of the lake, but the town's not that attractive.
  • Lecco - a less attractive town at the end of the south-eastern 'leg' of the lake.

[edit] Other destinations

  • Isola Comacina
  • Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, if you like impressive gardens
  • Menaggio e Cadenabbia Golf Club, just a few km inland from Menaggio, where George Clooney is said to be a member

[edit] Talk

I am trying to find out if ADSL/Broadband is available in Musso.

Good internet connection is at the hotel barchelleta Excelsior.

[edit] Get in

The main access to the lake is from Milan and Bergamo. It is also possible to cross the border from Lugano (Switzerland), and arriving at the lake at Menaggio. In the North, the lake can be accessed through the Splügen pass (closed from end of autumn to the beginning of spring), or from St. Moritz, both entering from Switzerland.

[edit] By Train

Regular trains run from Milan to Como (beware it has 2 stations: Como San Giovanni and Como Lago). Trains also run from Milan and Bergamo up the Eastern Shore from Lecco to Varenna and Colico and then on to Sondrio and St. Moritz. Station Como San Giovanni is a little bit outside the downtown, but there are a number of buses that stop there, and one can buy tickets at the Tabac in the station for a few Euros, or walk to to the center of town.

Overnight sleeper trains run from Amsterdam via Duesseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt and Basel stopping at Como on their way to Milan. Similar daytime trains also run.

[edit] By Bus

[edit] Get around

[edit] By Bus

Frequent buses run up the Western Shore from Como to Menaggio. A few then continue on to Colico.

[edit] By Boat

Several boats and hydrofoils a day travel all the way up the lake from Como to Colico stopping at most of the towns en-route.

There are also frequent service between the 'triangle' of towns in the centre of the lake - Menaggio, Bellagio & Varenna.

Less frequent boat/hydrofoils travel down the Eastern Leg to and from Lecco.

Timetables are available at tourist information offices, at the quayside or online[2].

[edit] By Train

Fairly regular train run up and down the Eastern Shore from Lecco to Varenna and Colico

[edit] By Car

Roads run up and down most of the shores. On the Western Shore, road works are common and travel duration can vary greatly. You can expect to average 40-60 km/h. Despite the construction of new tunnels, the road on the Western Shore still crosses the centre of many villages. Avoid the road if you are not a keen driver and dislike hairpins, steep inclines, sharp bends, and heavy traffic. (Fatal) accidents, often involving motorcyclists, are common.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Take at least one Boat Trip
  • Go up the funiculare (hillside trolley) to Brunate and see the view, or hike over to the Volta Lighthouse
  • Try a round of golf or tennis at the Villa D'Este or Monticello golf clubs, or some water sports on the Lake

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • Locanda dell'Isola Comacina on Isola Comacina
  • Creme Caramel in San Siro
  • La Baia in Cremia

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • Grand Hotel Tremezzo Palace (Luxury Hotel), Via Regina,8 - 22019 Tremezzo (+39 0344 42491), [3]. Fascinating Palace dating back to the beginning of the century, Grand Hotel Tremezzo Palace overlooks the Lake Como where the landscape is enchanting. Hundred windows over the Lake Como reflections, with a beautiful view on Bellagio, Villa Melzi, Villa Serbelloni and Villa Balbianello and a centuries old park, which borders with the botanic garden of Villa Carlotta. Grand Hotel Tremezzo Palace is one of the oldest hotels on the Lake Como and is situated close to the Golf Club Menaggio and Cadenabbia. The saloons with frescos and the rooms are furnished with vintage objects and furniture, which preserve the flavour and the glamour typical of the Belle Époque hotels.

Situated on the same Lake Como arm of other prestigious hotels like Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio and Grand Hotel Villa d'Este in Cernobbio, it is a landmark among the other hotels of Lake thanks to its nearness to the Golf Club Menaggio and Cadenabbia. Grand Hotel Tremezzo Palace is easy reachable from the airports of Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate driving along the road, which skirts the Lake, as well as from Bellagio, the Ceresio Lake and from the Switzerland.  edit

Grand Hotel Tremezzo Palace

Al-Marnich Farm Holidays, road to Posa - 22020 - Schignano (Como) - Italy. Al-Marnich is a certified agritourism with B&B and Restaurant service, near lake Como (8 km from Argegno and boats center).Al-Marnich Farm Holidays Website. Mobile Phone: 0039.3385905015 or Farm Phone: 0039.031819242. Email: info@al-marnich.it. From 40 Euro per person, free parking and ADSL service in the rooms.

[edit] MId-range

[edit] Stay safe

  • Beware of wild boars in the forests surrounding the lake
  • Make sure your car is in good condition, especially your tires, breaks, and handbreak, because of the steep and bendy nature of the roads
  • Expect motorcyclists to overtake in a seemingly suicidal manner
  • Locals love tailgating "slow" tourists. Allow them to overtake you, so you can follow them safely
  • Do not try to swim across the lake

[edit] Get out

In the winter, you can visit the Madesimo skiing area in the north by car, on the road to the Splügen pass. It is approximately a 60-90 minutes drive from the Menaggio area. Make sure your car is prepared for winter weather conditions.

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