The Lakes of Italy
The Lakes of Italy
Januari 28, 2023
The Lakes of Italy
Januari 28, 2023The Lakes of Italy
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The Lakes of Italy |
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Lake Como – Bellagio |
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| Lake Como | |
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Lake Como, dear to Stendhal, is also called Lario and is divided into three branches of almost equal length (Como, Colico and Lecco). It is striking for its position in a mountain landscape and its shores are dotted with picturesque villages, luxurious villas and parks. The whole area has a gentle and temperate climate.
Como was founded by the Romans in 196 B.C. on the site of a Celtic village. A possession of the powerful duchy of Milan in the middle-ages, it was well known in Italy and abroad for the skill of its builders and above all for the production of and trade in silk. There are many artistic sites to see in the town. Among them are the Church of Sant’Abbondio of the 11th century, and the Basilica of San Fedele. The heart of the old town is the Piazza del Duomo with its Renaissance Cathedral (Duomo), one of the most beautiful churches in Lombardy. The attractive walk along Lungo Lario takes the visitor to the Tempio Voltiano, where the mementos and relics of Alessandro Volta (1745-1827), the inventor of the battery, are conserved. |
| Not far from Como is Cernobbio which houses the marvelous Park of Villa d’Este (16th century). Further north are the towns of Moltrasio and Laglio and from here the cavern known as the Buco dell’ Orso (the bear’s hole) is easily reached.
Near Argegno is the attractive green valley of Intelvi, and from Sala Comacina one can visit the only island on Lake Como, the Comacina Island. |
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| Tremezzo is one of the best known holiday sites and it houses the splendid 18th century Villa Carlotta, with a museum and a magnificent and famous park sloping down to the lake. Its springtime rhododendrons and azaleas are stupendous.
From Cadenabbia or the nearby Menaggio, a health resort, one can take the ferry to Varenna a picturesque town on the eastern shore of the lake. Other places of interest on the eastern shore are Mandello del Lario, a picturesque town at the foot of the Grigne Massif, and Bellano, with the Church of SS. Nazaro e Celso and the famous “ravine” (“orrido”), formed by the Pioverna river. Also worth a visit is Colico with the Abbey of Piona, a jewel of medieval art. The enchanting Bellagio rises up jewel-like on the end of the promontory which divides the two southern branches of Lake Como. The historical center of the town is fascinating, with its narrow alleys and their arches, ancient patrician villas and luxurious hotels. Lezzeno is not far from Bellagio and from here the Grotto of the “Bulberi” can be visited by boat. At Nesso there is a spectacular waterfall which falls into a “ravine” (“orrido”). |
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| Passing through Careno, with its 12th century Church of San Martino, the visitor arrives at Torno where is of great interest the Villa Pliniana with its curious intermittent waterfall which has been known since ancient times.
Lecco, in an attractive mountainous landscape setting, is at the end of the south eastern branch of Lake Como. There is a Town museum and the Villa Manzoni, where the writer Alessandro Manzoni stayed. His most famous novel “The Betrothed’ was set in this area. Between Lecco and Bellagio there is a series of mountain holiday resorts such as Vaibrona, Asso, Ghisallo and Civenna, almost overhanging the lake. In the Valsassina there are numerous health resorts and it is a location for summer holidays as well as winter sports. |
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| For more information: | |
| APT Como Via Cavour 17 – 22100 Como Tel. 031 3300111 Fax 031 261152 www.lakecomo.org |
APT Lecco Via Nazario Sauro 6 – 23900 Lecco Tel. 0341 362360 Fax 0341 286231 www.aptlecco.com |
