Italian Lakes in Northern Italy - Lake Como - Menaggio

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"Lake Como area"

Lake Como


Lake Como offers a real haven for relaxation. People come to Lake Como enticed by the scenery and climate but return due to the warm and welcoming locals and the relaxing atmosphere that you can't but help fall in love with. We hope you too come here to discover the magic of Lake Como for yourself!
For lovers of history,food, wine,fashion, beauty, music, sightseeing, walking, cycling, sailing, motor racing, theartre, opera, skiing, cafe culture, football the area has something for everyone. Whether you take a boat to Bellagio for the famous silk and leather shops, visit Como town and it's gothic cathedrals, take a trip to The Milan fashion houses (1 hr) or just want to relax on the terrace taking in the views Lake Como never fails to deliver!
Lake side walks, long lazy alfresco meals, afternoon strolls around the gardens of historical villas or a boat trip to Cernobbio to see how the rich and famous live are just some of the activities you will love about the area and why you will want to return time and again!

Lake Como (Lago di Como in Italian, also known as Lario; Lach de Comm in Insubric; Latin: Larius Lacus) is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It has an area of 146 km², making it the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore. At over 400 m (1320 ft) deep it is one of the deepest lakes in Europe and the bottom of the lake is more than 200 metres (656 ft)
below sea-level.

Recreation and tourism
Lake Como is a popular tourist destination. It is a venue for sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. In 1818 Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote to Thomas Love Peacock: “This lake exceeds anything I ever beheld in beauty, with the exception of the arbutus islands of Killarney. It is long and narrow, and has the appearance of a mighty river winding among the mountains and the forests”.

Climate


Lake Como weather is generally mild. It is known for its Mediterranean-like climate where tropical and sub-tropical plants can grow year-round. In the winter, the lake helps to maintain a relatively higher temperature in the surrounding region
(since water releases heat energy more slowly than air).
Average daily maxima range from about 13 °C (55 °F) in December to 30 °C (85 °F) in July. Water temperatures can reach an average of 24°C (75°F) during the month of July. Snowfall is erratic and primarily affects the higher elevations. Rainfall is heaviest in May and lowest during the winter months.

Ferries

The Lake Como ferry service is a highly developed public transport system linking the dozens of small towns and villages dotted around the perimeter of the Lake. There are three main services:

‘Motorship’ services up and down the western branch and northern end of the Lake (between Colico or Piona and Como town), with additional shuttles to the mid-lake area. ‘Fast services’ that follow broadly the same route but use quicker hydrofoils, stop less frequently and cost extra. ‘Ferries’ that run only between the hugely popular mid-lake villages of Menaggio, Bellagio and Varenna, plus Cadenabbia. Some of these boats carry vehicles as well as passengers.

Places on the lake

Western shore ; from North to South -
Domaso ,Gravedona ,Dongo ,Musso ,Menaggio ,Cadenabbia ,Tremezzo
Mezzegra ,Lenno Ossuccio ,Argegno ,Brienno ,Moltrasio ,Cernobbio ,Como

South shore ; from West to East -
Como ,Blevio ,Bellagio ,Malgrate ,Lecco

Eastern shore ; from North to South -
Colico ,Dorio ,Dervio ,Bellano ,Varenna ,Lecco

Lake Como Location:

Lake Como is in the northern Italian Lakes District. Lake Como lies between Milan and the border of Switzerland. It's southern tip is about 40km north of Milan. It is surrounded by mountains and hills. Transportation to and from Lake Como: Lake Como lies on the Milan to Switzerland train line. The train stops in the town of Como, the main town on the lake, where there is a tourist office in Piazza Cavour. The Ferrovia Nord Milano, a small train line that leaves Como from via Manzoni, runs only between Como and Milan. Milan's Malpensa Airport is 40 miles away and has bus service to the town of Como.

Lake Como - When to Go:
Lake Como is a popular weekend destination for people from Milan so the weekdays may be less crowded. July and August are the most crowded months. Spring and Fall are the best times to visit as it is less crowded and the weather is usually pleasant. During the winter, some services may be closed, but you can ski in the mountains nearby.



Lake Como Shopping:
The town of Como has many silk factories so if you want to buy silk Como is a good place to go. Prices are low on designer fashion fabrics. Como also has a Silk Museum dating from 1900 where you can see the entire silk-making process.

Lake Como - When to Go:
Lake Como is a popular weekend destination for people from Milan so the weekdays may be less crowded. July and August are the most crowded months. Spring and Fall are the best times to visit as it is less crowded and the weather is usually pleasant. During the winter, some services may be closed, but you can ski in the mountains nearby.


Lake Como Festivals:
The Sagra di San Giovanni is celebrated the last weekend of June in the town of Como with folk arts and fireworks and in Ossuccio with a festival, boat procession, and boat race. The Palio del Baradello, a historical re-enactment, is the first week of September. Also in September is a traditional rowing race, Palio Remiero del Lario. There are music festivals around the lake in spring and fall, gastronomic festivals in fall, and drama from January - April.


Lake Como Attractions:
Bellagio, known as the pearl of the lake, is in a beautiful setting and has many nice villas. It is easy to get to by ferry from other cities on the lake. 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, 720m above Como, for hiking trails and beautiful views of the lake and the Alps.
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 Carlotta, south of Menaggio, has beautiful gardens. You can tour the inside with its original 18th century furniture and art works.
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. The fishing village of Varenna has picturesque narrow alleyways and streets below a castle and a lakeside walking path.

Outdoor Activities
Biking, mountain biking, hiking, boating, paragliding and windsurfing. In the winter, you can ski in the nearby mountains.
Cruises - there are some interesting cruises around the lake on commercial boats, mainly on weekends in the summer season.
Camping - there are a number of campsites around the lake.