According to sciencedict, Como is the largest settlement of the lake of the same name, stretching from south to north from the suburbs of Milan to the Valtellina valley, formed by the Adda River, which flows into the lake. Lake Como is surrounded by mountain peaks up to 2400 m high, and along the shores of the lake are small towns, villages and old villas. During the summer, Lake Como becomes the main holiday destination for Milanese and foreign guests. Tourists are offered numerous hiking trails, bike rides, horseback riding, cruises and a wide variety of water sports.
The city of Como is located at the southern tip of the southwestern arm of the lake, 40 km north of Milan.. The city is known as one of the largest silk producers in Italy. It is famous for its history and sights, however, this is more of an industrial city, so you can go on excursions here, and for recreation it is better to choose small settlements.
The city of Como was founded before our era. He gained his fame in the 13th century, when the great traveler Marco Polo, returning from China, brought silkworms here. From that moment Como became one of the main producers of silk in Italy.. After the Second World War, the cultivation of silkworms was discontinued, and the production of silk began to be based on Chinese raw materials. The local silk is supplied to the best Italian fashion houses.
In the center of the Old Town of Como, surrounded by the remains of the fortress walls of the 12th century, stands the Cathedral. It was built between the end of the 14th and 17th centuries on the site of the older church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The cathedral is a mixture of architectural styles – from Gothic to Renaissance. Next to the Cathedral are the old town hall of Broletto from the 13th century and the bell tower from the 13th century. Also inside the walls you can see the Basilica of San Fedele 10th century. Of the ancient buildings located outside the city walls, the Romanesque churches of Sant Abbondio (11th century) and San Carpoforo (10th century) can be distinguished. The center of the New Town of Como is Piazza Cavour with its many hotels and cafes. A little to the west of the square is the City Garden with the Tempio Voltiano Museum, dedicated to the native of the city – Alessandro Volta – the founder of the doctrine of electricity. Villa Olmo is also interesting., which was built at the end of the 18th century by the princes of Odescalchi. At one time, Napoleon and Garibaldi stayed here. Be sure to stroll along the city’s promenade, which stretches along the coastline, and relax on one of the city’s beaches. Funicular rides to the Brunate hill are very popular, at the top of which there is an observation deck with a breathtaking view of Lake Como and its surroundings.
From Como, you can go to other famous places on the lake. A little further north is the city of Cernobbio, where Villa d’Este was built in 1568 by Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio. In the 19th century, the villa became the property of the Queen of Great Britain Caroline of Brunswick, under which an extensive English garden was laid out here. Later, the villa was rebuilt into a luxury hotel, where the most famous people on the planet are now resting. Of interest are the villas of the 18th and 19th centuries surrounding the city of Moltrazio, including the Villa Passalaqua, where the Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini lived, and the Villa La Rose, where Winston Churchill rested. To the north, not far from the coast, is the only island of Lake Como – the island of Camachina. This tiny island (800×400 m) was the refuge of the Lombard kings in the Middle Ages during the wars. The best time to visit the island is the weekend after June 24, when the day of John the Baptist is celebrated, because there is a church that was built in the name of this saint. Opposite the island rises the “holy mountain” Ossuccio. This is one of the nine “holy mountains” representing ensembles of churches and chapels that were built between the 16th and 17th centuries in Piedmont and Lombardy. The complex includes 15 baroque chapels. Must visit Lenno, where in 1787 Villa Balbianello was built on Cape Lavedo. It is believed that in ancient times the famous villa of Pliny the Younger “Comedy” stood on this place. In addition, the villa is notable for the fact that one of the fragments of the second episode of Star Wars was filmed here. No less famous is the 17th-century Villa Carlotta, located to the north in the city of Tremezzo, with an area of 70,000 square meters. m. Of greatest interest are her gardens, where, among the thickets of azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias, fountains and statues by Canova, Acquisti and Thorvaldsen are located.
A ferry departs from Tremezzo to the most popular resorts of Lake Como – Menaggio, Bellagio and Varenna. Resorts have everything you need for a holiday: hotels, restaurants shops, public and private beaches, water sports centers. The Bellagio
resort is located on the cape of the same name in the place where the southwestern and southeastern arms of Lake Como converge. In Bellagio, the neoclassical Villa Melzi of the 19th century is interesting, in which Stendhal and Franz Liszt lived at one time. She is famous for her gardens. It is also worth taking a walk through the gardens of Villa Serbelloni, from where you can see all three arms of Lake Como. According to legend, it was here that the second villa of Pliny the Younger “Tragedy” was located. Resort Menaggio, located on the west coast of Como, is famous not only for its beaches, but also for its surrounding mountain landscapes, where numerous hiking trails are laid. From here, through the Menaggio mountain valley, you can reach Lake Lugano, most of which is located in Switzerland. Varena
resort is located on the opposite bank. The medieval castle of Castello di Vesio and the picturesque gardens of the villas of Monastero (got its name from the fact that it was built on the site of a monastery of the 13th century) and Cipressi are of interest here. 13 km north of Varenna is the northernmost settlement of Lake Como – the city of Colico. This part of Lake Como attracts wildlife lovers. At the northern end of the lake is a small lake Mezzola. Both lakes are connected by a small river. These places are protected by the Pian di Spagna bird sanctuary. Its area is 2245 hectares. The reserve was created to protect migratory birds. In addition, the northern part of Lake Como is a great place for windsurfing and kitesurfing. In the period from April to October, in the afternoon before sunset, the Breva wind blows here. The best conditions for practicing these sports are found in Colico, Domaso, Gravedona, Dongo and Dervio.
North of Lake Como in the mountains at an altitude of 1550 m is the ski resort of Madesimo. There are 48 km of slopes, most of which are “blue” and “red”, and 18 modern lifts. The highest point of the resort is Mount Rizzo Gropper (2948 m). From here begins the famous black slope “Canalone” with a height difference of 940 m. Also in Madesimo there are two snow parks, an ice rink, a sports center and many restaurants serving traditional dishes of the region. Nature lovers are offered 70 km of hiking trails near the Swiss border.
