UNMISSABLE LAKE COMO

Departure by private car or minivan to Cernobbio the ideal destination to spend relaxing time between landscape and cultural beauty, between the blue of the lake and the green of the mountains. Walking along the lakeside, shopping in the narrow alleys of the historical center, discovering nature and amazing views, enjoying typical food or admiring pieces of art between history and contemporary, are just some of the experiences you can live while visiting it. Cernobbio is famous and admired all over the world for its splendid villas. Visit to one of the famous villasof Cernobbio, Villa Pizzo or Villa Bernasconi, and the Garden of the Valley, near Villa D’Este, that is an oasis of peace where you can spend a few moments in the coolness and lush of nature and be inspired by the atmosphere. Villa Bernasconi, recently restored, is a Liberty jewel now accessible by the public with a new museum approach. It is the villa itself that tells its story linked to the silk industry which characterizes the entire Como area, it is not just a museum in the traditional sense of the term, but an experience made of suggestions and guided connections. Villa Pizzo: built in the first half of the 19th century on the promontory of the same name, owned by several Italian and European noble families with a beautiful garden and a boathouse.

Worth the mention is also Villa D’Este, home to a hotel considered one of the most beautiful in the world, and Villa Erba, a charming exhibition and congress centre.

Continue to Brienno, a true jewel of the past, is a small hamlet that is highly suggestive for its intersection of arcades and porticos, narrow streets and steep staircases winding between old vertical dwellings. It is one of the most intriguing villages on Lake Como with an irresistible charm. It is a labyrinth-like village, full of stairs and alleys, with stone houses attached to each other. If you are looking for history, this village is one of the best small borghi to see. Worth a visit to the parish church of Santi Nazaro e Celso, rebuilt in the 17th century but originally from the 13th century, the 16th-century church of San Vittore and the church of Madonna del Ronco, worth visiting if only for the panoramic position in which it is located.

Next stop is Argegno is a small picturesque village characterised by narrow streets and colourful houses, offers a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. One of the main points of interest is the Santuario di Sant'Anna, a religious building of great historical and artistic importance. A walk along the lakefront can’t be missed, to admire a breathtaking view of the lake and the surrounding mountains. The old centre of the town is very picturesque. Crossed by the Telo stream, it is divided into two parts connected by a Romanesque stone bridge with a pointed arch, part of the route of the ancient Via Regina, which today joins the two banks and the historic core of the town.

The last visit of the day is Tremezzo is known as the village of gardens and owes its name to its location. It is one of the richest Baroque villages in Italy, characterised by palaces, churches and villas that enrich its architectural and artistic value. One of the landmarks is undoubtedly Villa Carlotta, built in the late 17th century by Marquis Giorgio Clerici. It is an imposing building, surrounded by an Italian-style garden landscaped in every detail. Countless tall hedges, which change colour with the seasons. This botanical garden of exceptional beauty, houses an art collection that includes works by Canova, Migliara and Hayez. The garden, which covers over 8 hectares, is an explosion of colours in every season, thanks to the presence of over 500 species of plants and flowers. No less fascinating is the Church of San Lorenzo, a religious building distinguished by its spired bell tower and Romanesque style. Also the Teresio Olivelli Park, a green area close to the lake, is ideal for relaxing and enjoying nature. Lastly, take a stroll along the lakefront, where you can admire the old pastel-coloured houses reflected in it. Other remarkable buildings are Villa la Carlia, built in 1676, a private villa that is still used as a residence today. It is not possible to visit its interior, therefore, but it is impossible not to pause to admire its exterior features, as well as the enormous garden in which it is immersed. One architectural element that certainly differs from the rest is Villa Amila, built according to rationalist canons in 1931. Twenty years younger, on the other hand, is the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, whose lines bring to mind the much-loved Art Nouveau style. The sacred architecture of the place is also enchanting, boasting wonderful churches, not to mention the superb funeral chapel of the Sommariva family. It is a neoclassical construction, commissioned by Countess Emilia Seillière, widow of Luigi Sommariva. Inside, she had an altar built surmounted by statues in white Carrara marble.

At the end, return to Como.

Lunch and dinner on your own.

Overnight at the hotel in Como.

°°° Optional

Dinner at the restaurant in Tremezzo, with a splendid view of Lake Como. The ambience retains the authenticity of rustic cottages of bygone days, in the furnishings, the familiar welcome and the simplicity of the food with the inviting aromas and flavours of the cuisine, which is true and genuine, offering typical lake dishes and barbecued specialities, accompanied by the house wine and selected national wines.

Private transfer from/to the hotel and the restaurant.