Dream Lake Como. Choose our rental properties. Love it!
01
Como: the city
Como, which was established by
the ancient Romans, is surrounded on three
sides by medieval walls. The atmospheric “Città Murata” is the old, formerly walled quarter, today a dense grid of narrow pedestrianized lanes full of shops and little bars and restaurants. The city is a compendium of the beautiful things that the lake has to offer. There are magnificent churches (the Duomo Cathedral, but also Sant’Abbondio and San Fedele churches), historical villas and gardens (Villa Olmo and Villa Geno) luxuriant vegetation (Spina Verde Park), and fabulous panoramic spots such as Brunate which can be reached by way of an antique cable railway.
02
Como: the Duomo cathedral
Although largely gothic, elements of
Romanesque, renaissance and baroque styles
can also be seen in Como’s fancy, marble-clad Duomo. The Cathedral was built between the 14th and 18th
centuries, and is crowned by a high octagonal dome. Next door, the polychromatic Broletto, or medieval town hall, is unusual in that it butts right up against the church and is rather overwhelmed by it – a singular defeat for laicization.
​
03
Como: Sant'Abbondio church
About 500m south of the city walls is the remarkable 11th-century Romanesque Basilica
di Sant’Abbondio. Aside from its proud, high structure and impressive apse decorated with a beautiful geometric relief around the outside windows, the highlight is the remarkable fresco series inside the apse.
04
Como: San Fedele church
The circular layout of the originally
6th-century Basilica di San Fedele with
three naves and three apses, has been likened to a clover leaf. Its 16th century rose window and precious 16th and 17th century frescos add to its charm. A craft and antiques market fills the piazza in the front of the basilica during week-ends.
Como: Villa Olmo
05
Set grandly facing the lake Como, the sandy-coloured, statue-topped,
neo-classical façade of Villa Olmo is one of Como’s landmarks. If there’s an art exhibition inside, you will get the chance to admire the grand ballroom, at the heart of the long building. Otherwise, this mini-Versailles may well be locked up, but that won’t stop you from having a jog around the gardens, Italianate facing the lake and English style at the rear.
Almost as nice as the gardens is the lakeside stroll to get there. From the stadium, follow Passeggiata Lino Gelpi along the water. You pass a series of mansions and villas (and their gardens) along the way, including Villa Saporiti (late 18th century) and the adjacent Villa Gallia (17th century),
both now part of the provincial government.
A summertime bonus is the Lido di Villa Olmo, an open-air swimming pool and the lakeside bar, complete with sand and umbrellas.
06
Cernobbio
The shoreline of Cernobbio, a graceful town
5Km north of Como (served by frequent boats
and buses from Como), comprises a compact quarter of old houses just off the lakeside piazza and is laced with a series of fine villas fronting the water.
Following signs out of central Cernobbio, take a scenic drive that winds 17Km up through the residential villages behind Cernobbio to Monte Bisbino, a fabulous lookout spot.
If you like to have a unique experience you can also visit Villa d’Este one of the best 5 stars Hotel in the world, you can access only if you eat or drink something.
The lower lakeside road (Via Regina Vecchia) skirts the lakeshore out of
Cernobbio and past a fabulous row of 19th- century villas (all private property) around Moltrasio. Winston Churchill holidayed in one (Villa le Rose) just after WWII and another is owned by the Versace fashion dynasty. A few kilometers north, the villa-lined hamlet of Laglio is home to the star George Clooney (he lives in Villa Oleandra).
07