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Destinations » Italy » Lake Como Travel Guide
After Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore, Lake Como is the largest and one of the most popular lakes in Italy. With the area boasting extraordinary beautiful scenery, set in the foothills of the rolling snow-covered Alps, Lake Como is a perfect place to indulge and get away from the hustle and bustle of a crowded city. In addition to many artistic and cultural highlights a number of impressive historic villas run along the idyllic shores, some of them have been converted into luxury hotels and contribute to the magnificence of this unique destination. While the lake itself provides spectacular views of the surrounding area, various little towns such as Bellagio, Tremezzo or Varenna beside the lake boast their own charm and entice tourists to a stopover and stroll along their magical narrow streets.
There is a great variety of activities to choose from in the area of Lake Como. Why not rent a bike and explore the lakeside while enjoying a nice breeze or hire a sailing boat and cruise in style? Of course you could also go hiking and discover nature via the Lake Como Greenway, which follows the edge of the lake and cross through the charming lakeside park. If all this is too much exercise, you can always take the gondola and enjoy marvellous views of the area from the top of the hill.
'Foxtown' is a large discounted designer outlet just over the border in Switzerland and takes approximately 20 minutes to reach from Como. There is also the 'Iperal' shopping centre, located at the northern tip of the lake near Colico. This has an amazing supermarket as well as many other shops, sports, shoes, clothes, make-up, electrical store etc. Como has a few outlets, one of which is Bennett, located at the roundabout where the road is sign-posted to Menaggio which takes you up the westside of the lake.
Fish predominates in the restaurants on Lake Como (as expected). You will also find that polenta; a golden-yellow Italian cornmeal made from ground maize, and also the name given to the savoury cornmeal porridge that's made from it along with gnocchi; a variety of thick, soft noodle or dumpling which can be made from either potato, bread crumbs, ordinary wheat flour or semolina are another two popular dishes to be found in the restaurants of Lake Como.
Meat dishes are also on the menus, often pork, beef or chicken, rabbit and venison.
Bar Café Rossi is one of the most charming waterfront cafes in Bellagio, situated in the town's main square. Choose to enjoy your meal outside or in the lovely Art Nouveau dining room. A fine choice of pastries, sandwiches and excellent wine are served alongside splendid house coffee.
Ristorante Barchetta: This restaurant in Bellagio is known for fresh lake seafood, such as delicious preparations of local perch or angler fish, which is served in a delightful bamboo-enclosed heated terrace. There are excellent traditional Italian dishes without seafood, too, such as ravioli with goat's cheese, topped with pear sauce and savoury risotto with hazelnuts and pistachios or baby lamb chops with rosemary.
Vecchia Varenna: This is a very romantic restaurant in Varenna, which manages to blend superb local cuisine with a marvellous lakefront charm. A pretty stone-floored room with white stone walls as well as a covered terrace overlooking the water is set up for you to enjoy local herbs and vegetables, tagliolini laced with caviar; risottos combined wild mushrooms and lavarello (a white fish from the lake) or grilled lake trout stuffed with radicchio risotto.
Como is the largest town on the lake and entices you with its charming historic centre. Stroll along Como's main street, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and admire tiny Renaissance churches, palaces and ancient wooden houses. Learn about the city's tradition of silk making and its roots to the Gauls and the Romans. After that, go on a ride on the funicular up to the top of the hill Brunate for some breath-taking views.
The area known as Centro Lago, where the three town of Bellagio, Varenna and Menaagio sit on three different shorelines is definitely the most beautiful area by the lake.
Cyprus groves, stunning villas with magical gardens, earth-toned buildings, steeped cobbled lanes and altogether an unspoilt region are what one associates with the town of Bellago. The town is located at the very tip of the peninsula, so if you decide to visit a nearby shore it is a very convenient trip by boat. But why not stay in Bellago for a while and visit one of the lovely festivals or outdoor markets?
Varenna: This charming town on the eastern part of the lake used to be a fishing village. Climb up the hill of the Castello di Vezio and enjoy stunning views of Lake Como and the pretty lakeside villages or visit one of the magnificent gardens.
The vibrant resort of Menaggio provides marvellous hiking opportunities, walks and trails. The main attraction is a bit further out of town, the Villa Carlotta, which is the most famous villa on the lake and was built in 1643 and holds many romantic paintings, statues and Empire furnishings. There are also beautiful gardens lined with orchids, banana trees, cacti, palms, and a fern jungle.
Sacro Monte di Ossuccio: The Sacred Mount of Ossuccio was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sits along the western part of Lake Como, surrounded by lovely olive groves and forests. Fifteen Baroque chapels all built in between the years of 1635 and 1720 line the path up to the Monastery, which is dedicated to the Coronation of the Virgin.
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