The 14th-century façade of Como's cathedral that nearly fills one side of Piazza Duomo is pure Gothic, a marble face highlighted by detailed stone carving and statues around a rose window, edged with delicate carved pinnacles. (Oddly, instead of the expected saints, the statues at either side of the main door are of Pliny the Elder and Younger, Roman residents of the lake who were far from friendly to early Christians.) It isn't until you enter that you'll see why this church is hailed as Italy's finest example of the14th-century transition from Gothic to Renaissance styles. Polychrome painting and gilding on the side altars "update" the older look of the rose window and deeply carved main altar, but the mix is harmonious. If you're energetic, climb to the 18th-century dome.
Palatial Villa d'Este, built for an English queen and now a luxury hotel, sets a high standard for lake villas, with terraced gardens climbing the steep hill behind it. The rest of the town isn't quite so grand, but it has a nice holiday air, and is the starting point for a narrow winding road up 1,310-meter Monte Bisbino to a pilgrimage church and panoramic views.
n Lake Como's mildest spot, the Tremezzina Riviera, foliage remains green all winter, so it's no wonder one of Italy's most famous gardens is here. Although the 18th-century palace of Villa Carlotta is filled with sculpture and paintings, most tourists come to see its fabulous hillside of gardens. At their best in May, when the camellias and 12-meter-tall banks of massed rhododendrons are in bloom, the gardens are filled with colorful flowers throughout the season.
There's no question that Bellagio knows it's the prettiest town on the lake, with its setting on the long point where the lake's three arms meet. No matter which way you look, the views are superb and usually framed by gardens or carefully maintained buildings. Pricey shops line its few streets, one of which is a long flight of stone stairs connecting the upper town with the boat landing. Two gardens, one stretching along the lake and the other high above town, are the main tourist attractions - apart from the picture-perfect town itself.
The Castello Sforzesco houses a collection of small museums, which are all accessible with the same ticket and will keep you occupied for quite some time: Antique Furniture & Wooden Sculpture Museum Applied Arts Collection Archaeological Museum (with Egyptian and Prehistoric sections) Museum of Ancient Art Museum of Musical Instruments Pinacoteca (Picture Gallery) Highlights of the collection are Michelangelo’s last sculpture, on which he was working until days before his death, la Rondanini Pietà, and the masterpieces in the Pinacoteca by Mantegna, Canaletto and Tintoretto. The Castello Sforzesco itself is an imposing building, situated at the edge of the beautiful Parco Sempione and easily reachable by foot from the Piazza Duomo by following Via Dante. The origins of the castle date back as far as 1450, but the turbulent history of Milan has made sure that many alterations have been made during its existence.
Milan’s Duomo is decidedly the most impressive structure in Milan. Standing proud in Piazza del Duomo, this behemoth cathedral has seen more than 600 years pass.