Travels » Milan & Lakes Maggiore, Como » Lake Como & Lago Maggiore
Lake Como sights:
- Villa d’Este
- Villa Mylius-Vigoni
- Villa Cipressi
- Villa Monastero
- Villa Melzi
- Villa del Balbianello
- Villa Carlotta
- Castello di Vezio
Varenna
We chose Varenna to stay, because there is the best convinient place to get to every points at lake Como. There is a triangle: Varenna, Mennaggio and Bellagio at lake center and You can quickle come from each to other communa. And the main sights — beautyful villas — are situated mostly next to the lake center. Why Varenna, not Mennaggio or Bellagio?
- Varenna is in itself the one more sight, mediaeval picturesque town.
- Varenna has lake-front promenade with wonderful views, and a vehicular traffic is hidden at the other side and You can’t feel it .You just get to a fair tale.
- The sunshine in Varenna is mostly whole day, it is a rarity at lake Como with its steep banks. (The best position for the sunshine has Bellagio. It’s superb to stay at the sight-hotel villa Serbelloni with the best location. I imagine how splendid to walk in the sunshine in its gardens and swim in its pool with the best lake views. But in bad weather (as we mostly had) Varenna doesn’t miss its charm, the charm becomes more deep and sensitive, with another mood, not such brightly and festive.
Video length in the article is 18 seconds — 2 minutes 43 seconds
6-th day: Como, villa d’Este
Como
Next day we went to villa d’Este in Cernobbio. Now it is the hotel, so villa visit is possible with pre-registation and making an order at villa restaurant. For getting Cernobbio we got to Como at the first, visit it, then by boat also get to Cernobbio.
Villa d’Este
As Como had a typical mediaeval brutal character Cernobbio was more home-freindly and with more grace. At that time in Cernobbio can feeled also and the spirit of noble elegance. The quintessence of this spirit was concentrated at villa d’Este.
7-th day: Villa Mylius-Vigoni, villa Cipressi
Villa Mylius-Vigoni
Villa Mylius-Vigoni is one more villa, which can visit on lake Como and feel spirit of the past. Now it is German-Italian Centre for the European Dialogue, but on thursdays there were organised guided tours. From the Menaggio port to villa Mylius-Vigoni 2 km to wak (up to the hill). Menaggio looked not less nice than the villa, while we went to the villa we could enjoy its views.
Villa Cipressi
When we came back to Varenna, we came in villa Cipressi, wich was next door to us.It is the hotel now, but it is possible to visit the villa gardens. It is a little botanic garden, and looked as jungle (for me).There was a beutyful corner with a bench on lake front, it was very spectacular for enjoy lakes views. The tickets to visit garden were sold separately and with entrance tichets to villa Monastero, that was the next building. But it was late, villa Monastero was closed, so we went to visit it next morning.
8-th day: Villa Monastero, villa Melzi
Villa Monastero
So next morning we came to villa Moastero. It is museum now. The gardens were going along lake front and with the clouds above the lake looked mysterius. It seems to me, if the sun shined, it would be no so interesting. so I’m very glad, that it rained. But then the sun shined too, so we could enjoy the views in different moods.
Villa Melzi
After villa Monastero we went to Bellagio to visit one more magnificent villa — villa Melzi. From the port of Bellagio we desided to get to the villa by tourist train. It was interesting to see Bellagio on the way. We were told that we could come back with this train too — we had paid returned tickets too. But on the way back we waited-waired for the train… and had to go by foot. Along the narrow road with no sidewalk and with tall stone walls on the sides. About 10 minutes. Till we came out from this stone trench to the lake front promenade. If we didn’t wait for the trein, we would came out from another garden gate, from wich and to wich can easy and nicely to get to or from the port along a pretty lake front. If we went by foot we didn’t know all these nuances.
9-th day: Villa del Balbianello, villa Carlotta
Villa del Balbianello
To villa del Balbianello we got by boat to Lenno then walked to the villa on lake front and after that — went up to hill, on road among the villa forest.(All route is 2 km to walk). At least the sun shined and we could fully enjoy the views. Villa del Balbianello is more spectacular thanks its ladshaft ups and downs. I would leave these fantastic views for desert, after visit all sights.
Villa Carlotta
The most, probably, popular villa on lake Como — this is Villa Carlotta, thanks azalea blossom in its garden, which more seems to be whole forest, sometimes — jungle. I think photo doesn’t give real picture to imagine not azalea garden beauty, nor jungle mysterious spirit. When we were there was no azalea blossom in the garden, but I saw it before in other places and I know how dificult to take photos -impossible I would say. So I would recommend to visit Villa Carlotta by own, and I would like to visit it one more time to see azalea in the sunshine. (From Lenno to Tremezzo to visit villa Carlotta we got by the boat, the villa is next door to the port.)
10-th day. Castello di Vezio
And the last day before our departure the sun shined at full strength at least. It was rhe question: what to see, Castello di Vezio or villa Serbelloni gardens with a guided tour? We decided to explore Castello di Vezio — it would be a pity to live here and not to visit the sight. And the thought of walking by gtoup was not sympathetic. So we went to Castello di Vezio.. At the first we came along the Varenna to Fiumelatte (Milk river) in hope to get up there. When we saw goat trails we were doubt and left this idea. So we came back and got up to Castello di Vezio from another side of Varenna. It was very nice footpass among the forest and the views from Castello di Vezio were the the best compensation of the long way up.
11-th day. Departure
But the time passed and it bacame to say goodbye to our marvelous fairy tale and we went to back: at the first to the raill station, then -to the aeroport Malpensa, by train too. Express trains leave more frequently than the buses, but some more expensive.
It was pity to leave my favorite Italy, especialy so elegant and enchanted places. But ahead waited for us Naples. So see You, Italy, soon!
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You can look useful touristic info and accommodation at Lake Como in an article
Lake Como visit: what to see & where to stay
It was the second part of my trip to Milan and lakes Maggiore and Como, You can read from begining: Milan & lakes Maggiore, Como