Lake Como

Lake Como is an upscale resort area in Italy’s northern Lombardy region. Shaped like an upside down Y, the Lake Como area has three famous towns:

1. Bellagio: The town located at the top of the land mass that divides the lake into two arms, Bellagio is famous worldwide for stunning lakeside villas that are owned by famous celebrities like George Clooney and Sir Richard Branson. Among the key sights in Bellagio are Villa Serbelloni Park, an 18th-century terraced garden with lake views, the Tower of the Arts, a venue for exhibitions and performances, the Romanesque San Giacomo Church, and the Museum of Navigational Instruments, which displays sundials and compasses.

2. Varenna: Located on the eastern shore of Lake Como, Varenna is a picturesque and romantic town that was founded by local fishermen in 769 AD. The town has a walkway that loops through it, a a pretty harbor flanked by charming restaurants and medieval lanes, and historical sights like the Church of San Giorgio, which houses many 15th and 16th century paintings, and the Villa Monastero (located between Varenna and Fiumelatte), a Cistercian monastery founded in the 11th or 12th century that now houses a museum and botanical garden.

3. Como: Located on the Italian-Swiss border, the town of Como overlooks the southwest end of Lake Como. The town has delightful streets filled with quaint shops, impressive piazzas and churches like the Piazza San Fedele, Piazza del Duomo, Basilica of San Fedele and the Como cathedral, and a historical monument in the Piazza Vittoria to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the famous Italian general who liberated the city from the Austrians in 1859. The town is also home to some of the most luxurious villas on Lake Como, including the 17th century Villa Olmo, which once hosted Napoleon Bonaparte!

Lake Como

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