LAKE COMO - WHAT TO SEE

Bellagio

Bellagio, on Lake Como, has been called the most beautiful town in Italy. It`s not hard to see why. Its stunning location and scenic waterfront, with grand hotels and steep cobbled steps, bring out the poet in anyone who comes here, among others Shelley, Flaubert and Mark Twain have all sung its praises. Now home to the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni and its Michelin-starred restaurant, Mistral, the jet set flock here as do day-trippers.

The tiny Borgo (the medieval part of town) and maze of stepped streets lined with delis, eateries and silk shops is a delight to explore. Peering down on the town is the Romanesque church of San Giacomo and its tower, survivors from Bellagio`s medieval fortifications. The tourist office is at the landing stage on Piazza Mazzini. There is a promenade planted with oleanders and lime trees, fin-de-siècle hotels painted shades of butterscotch, peach and cream, a spectacular mid-lake location facing west and a heart of stepped, cobbled alleyways, all of which make Bellagio the quintessential Italian Lakes destination.

The storybook village of Bellagio sits near the tip of the peninsula where the three arms of the lake meet. It`s a popular base from which to tour the lake, with a couple of lovely villa grounds to tour. From Bellagio, a short ferry ride to either far shore leads to pretty fishing villages surrounded by lush gardens and postcard castles: Varenna on the eastern shore, has its hillside castle and two little villa gardens (just north of Italy`s shortest river, Fiumelatte). On the western shore are Menaggio, Tremezzo (with the famed Villa Carlotta, best on the lake), and Lenno (with the Hollywood-perfect Villa Balbianello) plus the spot by the road in Mezzegra where Mussolini was gunned down.

Villa Serbelloni

On the hilltop stands the Villa Serbelloni with splendid views of all three branches of the lake and the mountains from its park. It is run as a study center and is not to be confused with its namesake, the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. The villa is now owned by the Rockefeller Foundation and closed to visitors, but there are guided tours of the garden leaving from the medieval tower in Piazza San Giacomo. If you cannot do the tour but want the view, take the road running alongside the park to Punta Spartivento and the small harbor at the very tip of the headland, which is a lovely spot for a dip. Heading south along the lakeside promenade and past the lido to Bellagio`s other magnificent residence, Villa Melzi and its neoclassical chapel, museum and outstanding Mediterranean gardens.

Villa Carlotta

Villa Carlotta is an exceptionally photogenic majestic villa with glorious gardens. It was built in the late 17th century from the profits of the silk trade and filled with precious works of art, including sculptures by Canova and Thorwaldsen, in the 19th century. Its 14-acre formal terraced gardens are as big a draw as the startlingly white house and its art, with fountains and statues carefully arranged among 150 types of rhododendron, camellia and azalea.

Como

The walled town of Como has a good historic center and lively squares with nice cafes. There are several walking paths near town. Como makes a good base if you`re traveling by train. From Como you can take the funicular to the village of Brunate, 2,300 feet above Como, for hiking trails and beautiful views of the lake and the Alps. Silk is produced in the town of Como and you can see the entire silk-making process in the Silk Museum dating from 1900 or buy silk in many shops.

Villa d`Este

In the village of Cernobbio on the west coast, is the most famous of Lake Como`s villas. The villa is now a luxury hotel on a wooded peninsula. Each of its 161 rooms is unique.

Menaggio

Against the mountains, is a lively resort with a lakeside promenade. Menaggio is popular with outdoor enthusiasts for walking or hiking, swimming, windsurfing, and rock climbing.

Villa del Balbianello

In the village of Lenno, is also worth a visit and has some unusual treasures. The villa was used as a set for one of the Star Wars movies.

Varenna

The fishing village of Varenna has picturesque narrow alleyways and streets below a castle and a lakeside walking path.

Take a Cruise

Traveling Lake Como by boat is a slow, easy-going method of travel totally devoid of the traffic jams and long tunnels that often plague the roads hugging the lake shores. More importantly, from the vantage point of a boat you actually get to see all those glorious gardens and lavish villas that line Lake Como`s banks. From the road, often all you can see of these noble summer mansions are the high walls fencing them off from prying eyes. Who knows? You might get lucky and spot George Clooney relaxing on the terrace of the villa he bought from John Kerry in 2004.