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Welcome to Lake Como (guest blogger)

As the main focus of this site is to promote the beauty of the northern italian lake areas, the following article and images comes from Chiara who manages the blog Italy Lakes.net.

Welcome to Lake Como

Lake Como is one of largest and the most well-known of northern Italy's lakes. Thanks to its beauty, the diversity of its landscapes and its mild summers and winters, the Como area is a favorite destination for tourists from all over Northern Europe.

Among the most famous of Lake Como's localities is undoubtedly Cernobbio. A popular holiday resort at the foot of Mount Bisbino, Cernobbio is also well-known for its numerous elegant and luxurious villas, the most famous of which is Villa d'Este. As well as Villa d'Este, must-visits in the area around Cernobbio include Villa Erba, Villa Pizzo, Villa Fontanelle, and Villa Bernasconi. Then there are the Buco della Volpe – Fox Hole – and Zocca d’Ass caves. Last but not least, there is the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Santuario della Beata Vergine at the top of Mount Bisbino.

Another popular destination for visitors to Lake Como is the charming lakeside village of Bellagio which sits where the lake splits into two leg-like sections.

At the end of Bellagio's Via Garibaldi main street, on the left of the small square and at the foot of the Serbelloni Gardens hill, is St. James' Basilica – the oldest in Bellagio. Situated on the promontory to the east of the village with its magnificent park is Villa Serbelloni. Another building worthy of note is the neoclassical Villa Melzi.

Another famous spot on Lake Come is Laglio, which Hollywood star George Clooney made Laglio famous when he bought a magnificent lakeside villa in the village. In Laglio itself is the baroque Church of St. George – chiesa di San Giorgio – and not far from Laglio in the hamlet of Vergonzano is the elegant Villa Melograno, otherwise known as Fasola. Also worth a visit is the charming village of Briennio with its well preserved medieval centre.

For more information on Lake Como and northern Italy's other scenic lakes and to find out about festivals, shows, concerts, exhibitions, sporting events and more, hop over to the blog Italy Lakes.net (http://www.italylakes.net/).

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Gil said…
Enjoyed your post. Especially the pictures! The scenes actually look better than I remember from my visit there back in the late 1990s.
9:27 AM, November 10, 2011
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