Things To Do
Lake Como
The lake is fringed by obscenely picturesque villages and belle epoch villas with a wealth of natural and man made beauty to explore. All destinations listed are an easy ferry ride from Bellagio. Ferries depart every 20 minutes from the port in Bellagio. Timetables are available from www.navigazionelaghi.it
Villa del Balbianello
[Wedding venue] Built in 1787 on the site of a Franciscan monastery, you may be interested to know the last person to own the villa, Guido Monzino, was a lifelong single man who almost constantly travelled to all corners world and amongst other activities led first Italian expedition to climb Everest. On his death he left the villa to the Italian equivalent of the National Trust, Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano. Amongst others, the films James Bond Casino Royale, Star Wars: Episode II and Ocean’s Twelve were filmed here. The 1995 film ‘A month by the lake’ with Vanessa Redgrave and Uma Thurman was also filmed here. The exceptionally beautiful architectural forms and gardens can be reached by boat from the Lido di Lenno, or a 15 minute walk from Lenno.
Bellagio
Since the days of the Roman empire, when this ‘pearl of the lake’ was used as a holiday resort for Roman nobility, Bellagio remains a magnetic village of enchanting and beguiling beauty. One could easily spend a weekend just exploring Bellagio. Although a very small village, only a few of hundred metres in length, there are a wide variety of places worthy of a visit. A good starting point for research is the official tourism website.
Villa Melzi
[In Bellagio] The lakeside walk to the Villa Melzi, ideally with gelati or granita in hand, about 5 minutes south of the main village passes some colourful lakeside gardens and decaying villas, as well as the Lido di Bellagio. The gardens of the lakeside Villa Melzi are as resplendent as the villa itself. 6 euro entry adults, open until 1830 daily.
Villa Serbelloni Rockefeller
[In Bellagio] The Villa Serbelloni (not to be confused with the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni) is a hilltop villa which sits stop Bellagio, and is owned and managed by the Rockerfeller Foundation. It is a destination for academics, politicians, writers, poets and artists in residence, residencies are awarded by the Rockefeller Foundation if you would like to extend your stay. Tours can be had of the estate's beautiful gardens only, not the villa itself, which is now exclusively for the artist-in-residence and research centre, which last for approximately an hour and a half. Tours leave daily except Mondays from April to the beginning of November at 11 a.m. and 3:30p.m. as weather allows, and can be organized from the tourist information centre in the medieval tower in the piazza beside St. Giacomo Tours begin from the piazza of San Giacomo.
La Punta
[In Bellagio] A 5 minute walk from the centre of the village in a northern direction, will bring you to the point of the peninsula on which Bellagio nestles, and offers spectacular views of the lake. The lake is at its widest here, at 4.5km. The restaurant, ‘la punta’ makes a marvellous place to stop for lunch or dinner, and defies the usual rule-of-thumb in Bellagio that those places with a good view serve rather standard but somewhat overpriced fare.
Varenna
The old village of Varenna is built around a net of secluded terraced passageways and hidden passageways, with superb views of the lake. Walk south from the port to find the old town (‘borgo’.)
Villa Monastero
[In Varenna] Surrounded by a magical garden, this ex Cistercian convent dates from 1200 and was transformed into a splendid residence in the seventeenth century. The park was enlarged at the end of the last century. After numerous changes of owners, the villa now plays host to international scientific and cultural meetings and is open to the public in summer.
Villa Carlotta
[in Tremezzo] Villa Carlotta is (yet another) majestic villa poised above the lake with ravishing gardens. It was built in the late 17th century from the profits of the silk trade and filled with precious works of art, including sculptures by Canova and Thorwaldsen, in the 19th century. Its 6-hectare (14-acre) formal terraced gardens are as big a draw as the startling house and its art, fountains and statues carefully arranged among 150 types of rhododendron, camellia and azalea.