The magnificent landscape of the lake, known as Lake Como,
enchanted, over the centuries, artists and travelers: by the French
writer Flaubert musicians Gioacchino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi and
Vincenzo Bellini, who wrote the opera "Norma".
The lake has been the
birthplace of famous people such as the Italian physicist Alessandro
Volta, inventor of the first electric power generator, the battery, in
the Museum of Physics of the University "Sapienza" of Rome.
Nowadays
the lake continues to attract celebrities from the international jet-set
that appreciating the beauty of the lake and the charming towns that
surround it have decided to establish his residence.
Lake Como,
located about 50 km from Milan, between the provinces of Como and Lecco,
is the third largest Italian lake, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore,
and is the deepest (410 meters). The lake, one of the most important in
Lombardy, the characteristic shape of an inverted Y, unfolds into three
branches: southwest of Como and Lecco in the southeast and north Colico.
From
its shores you can enjoy many and fascinating views: picturesque
villages, beautiful villas and lush gardens await visitors looking for
relaxation, entertainment and culture in close contact with nature.
Many
splendid villas, dot the shores of the lake, holiday resort of Lombard
nobility as early as the sixteenth century, while its most important
centers offer different preciousness to discover. For example, in Como,
the town from which the lake takes its name, is the Educational Silk
Museum where you can trace the evidence of textile production tradition
of Como.
Como is also considered the birthplace of the artistic and
Italian architectural rationalism; here there are many examples of
European modern architecture as the Novocomum, the house Giuliani
Frigerio, the War Memorial and the former House of Fascism, to all
Italian architect Giuseppe Terragni.
In Cernobbio don’t forget to
visit the sixteenth century Villa d'Este, used by Alfred Hitchcock as a
film location "garden of pleasure", and the famous Villa Erba, one of
the most important villas of the nineteenth century Italian lake and
today exhibition congressional complex of international fame .
Continuing
north you reach Ossuccio, famous for its spectacular Comacina Island,
the only island of the lake and the Sacred Mountain of Ossuccio, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
In the nearby towns of Moltrasio
and Lenno, they are worth visiting Villa Passalacqua and Villa
Balbianello, location of the film Star Wars and Agent 007 - Casino
Royale.
Along the coast you can reach Tremezzo and its Villa
Carlotta, with terraced gardens and museum, decorated with works of
Canova, Thorvaldsen and Hayez.
At the meeting point of the three
branches of the lake you find the town Bellagio with its elegant
aristocratic villas, including Villa Serbelloni and Villa Melzi, the
latter famous for its botanical park.
Heading south we reach Lecco.
Here it is a must to visit Villa Manzoni, Manzoni's home as museum and
the starting point of a journey in the footsteps of The Betrothed.
Continuing north, you can visit beautiful towns like Varenna, Bellano and Colico, headquarters of the Abbey of Piona.
The
historical and cultural vocation of Lake Como joins the outdoor sports
and activities of a lake that is a destination of choice for lovers of
active holidays. In fact in the summer fans of water sports can enjoy
sailing, rowing, windsurfing, motor boating, water skiing, canoeing and
kite-surfing.
Who practices the "air sports" such as hang gliding,
paragliding and gliding can enjoy a privileged point of view about the
scenery of the lake.
Mountain lovers can instead try their hand at
rock climbing, great tours, hiking, biking and horseback riding. Even
golf around the lake has a place of honor with seven internationally
renowned courses in the green.
From the lake to the mountains the
journey is short thanks to excellent connections. In winter the ski
resorts of Piani di Bobbio and the Pian delle Betulle offer kilometers
of perfectly groomed slopes and numerous rings equipped for the practice
of cross-country skiing, ski mountaineering and walking with snowshoes.
Lovers
of fine cuisine with the opportunity of a trip to Lake and its environs
want to know the gastronomic traditions of the area have the
opportunity to discover unique flavors and products, such as risotto
with perch fillets, the precious oil olive, the many vegetables
(including excel the Rogaro asparagus and Drezzo) and of course many
dishes based on fish as missoltini (savory shad, dried and pressed which
are marinated with vinegar and oil).