Enjoy a day out at Lake Como and discover some of the best beaches where you can spend relaxing moments and have fun. Lake Como has several well equipped beaches called Lidi but also many free beaches, so what are you waiting for? Lake Como is waiting for you!

Read more about Lake Como beaches.

Lake Como has always been a popular retreat for stars and celebrities who fall in love with the beautiful landscapes, the calm waters and the untouched life style and decide to buy a property at the lake.
In fact many celebrity vips, prominent politicians, businessmen, art and culture athletes, such as Sir Richard Branson, owner of the famous brand “Virgin” , Michael Schumacher, Gianluca Zambrotta, George Clooney, Antonella Versace, Arkady Novikov, as well as many other popular stars own a villa at Lake Como.

The last person to buy a property at Lake Como is the former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has recently bought Villa Comalcione from his friend senator Marcello Dell’Utri after years of research. The mansion located in Torno on the west coast of the lake, in front of Moltrasio, has been completely restored and features thirty rooms, a tennis court, private dock, 3000 m park and a breathtaking lake view.

And who is going to be the next to but a property on the beautiful shores of Lake Como?

The 2012 edition of the annual exhibition at Villa Olmo opened its doors to public last Saturday 24 March and visitors will be able to see it until July 29 2012.

This years exhibition intends to trace the history and the talent of the most important Flemish artists between the sixteenth and seventeenth century, the so named dynasty of Bruegel. There will be over 70 paintings that have been borrowed from public and private collections throughout Italy, Europe (Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna), Asia (Tel Aviv Museum of Art) and United States.

Breugel was considered the greatest Flemish painter of the 16th century and is famous for his landscapes , in which he showed affinity with the Flemish 16th-century landscape tradition; he spent some years in Italy too and after that started changing his paintings and representing multifigure compositions, representations of crowds of people loosely disposed throughout the picture.

More info:

Villa Olmo Via Simone Cantoni 1 (see map)
Tel: +39 031574240
Opening hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9.00am-8.00pm
Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9.00am-10.00pm
Closed on Monday
Open on festivity days.
Admission: Full price: 10 €
Concession: 8 € – up to 18 years and students up to 26, over 65; groups (min.20 people – free entry for leader)

News and events to enjoy your holiday at Lake Como.

The season is almost arrived at Lake Como and there’s plenty to see and do here, there’s some wonderful art, many opportunities sightseeing and exploring and the lake is a true paradise for sports enthusiasts.

If you happen to be at Lake Como during the Easter festivities, check out the traditional Easter market in Como in Piazza Cavour that will take place from 4th April to 9^th April many little wooden huts selling all sorts of handicrafts and woodwork items besides local food to taste.

With the arrival of spring the most famous gardens of Lake Como reopen to the public opening  their doors to visitor coming from all over the world to admire this spectacular beauty.

In April and May Villa Carlotta offers an authentic sea of multicoloured azaleas in high rounded cushions along the garden paths. The effect is unique, because of the chromatic variety and of the plant size.

At the end of May the usual appointment with the Classic Car Show at the Villa D’Este takes place, better known as Concorso Eleganza, where motoring enthusiasts come to admire about 50 historic cars built between the twenties and the seventies. Villa Erba, Cernobbio, May 25 to 27, 2012.

For information about where to stay at Lake Como www.vacanzelago.com

Looking for some ideas for Easter holidays?

Lake Como has a wide variety of natural beauty and cultural activities perfect for the family, friends or couple looking for a holiday over the Easter period.

We have picked some of our favourite holiday solutions for a perfect holiday at the lake:

1 – Rent a chalet on the western coast of the lake and enjoy hiking in the surrounding mountains

2 – If you want to go holiday with a one or two other families, why not rent a villa? You can find some nice properties ideal for two families that are very reasonable when you divide the costs two families.

3 – Choose a holiday rental in the Tremezzina area and visit the  beautiful villas and gardens that have been featured in  films including Star Wars and James Bond

4 – Spend a week in our top private villa with spa where peace, privacy and relaxation are guaranteed.

We can offer whatever you are looking for!

Check out all our offers at www.vacanzelago.com

Since 1894, the Como-Brunate funicular railway has been taking passengers up to Brunate to enjoy the breathtaking views this vantage point offers over Lake Como and the surrounding mountains.

The Como-Brunate funicular operates daily from 6.00 am to 10.30 pm. On Saturdays, the service runs until midnight.

The funicular railway allows visitors to reach Brunate from Como in a few minutes. Once in Brunate, visitors can either admire the views or go on one of many lovely walks. Just minutes away from the funicular station is the Pissarottino spring which is a wonderful spot from which to admire Lake Como, the splendid Villa d’Este and Monte Rosa.

From the spring it’s also possible to walk back down to Como by taking either the path which follows the route of the funicular or the route which passes the fifteenth century former convent of Eremo di San Donato.

If you would like climb even higher, from Brunate you can reach San Maurizio and Cao by bus or walk to Monte Piatto and then down to Torno from where it is possible to catch a boat back to the city of Como. It would be a good idea to check boat departure times before you set off to avoid being stranded in Torno.

For more information, visit the Como-Brunate funicular railway website.

If you are looking for an idea for a original and memorable way to see in the New Year, then how about taking a New Year’s Eve Cruise on one of Italy’s spectacular lakes?

New Year’s Eve is also known as S. Silvestro – Saint Silvester’s day in Italy.

It matters not whether you have chosen Lake Como, Lake Garda or Lake Maggiore as the destination for your holiday break because each one of these lakes offers New Year’s Eve cruises.

If you do decide to see in the New Year from a cruise on an Italian lake, this is what you can expect:

- 8.00 pm – Boarding
- 8.40 pm – Cruise begins
- New Year’s Eve Dinner on board with appetizers, first and second courses, and dessert
- Midnight – New Year’s Day Toast
- A plate of cotechino and lentils – a New Year’s Day tradition in Italy which reportedly helps ensure the coming year will be happy and prosperous.

The times at which the cruises end depend on their location. Please refer to the websites listed below for more information.

Places are limited, so booking in advance is recommended.

For prices, booking information and to view the complete menus for the New Year’s Eve lake cruises, please visit the the following web pages:

New Year’s Eve Cruise on Lake Como

New Year’s Eve Cruise on Lake Maggiore

New Year’s Eve Cruise on Lake Garda

The following post about Cento Valli on Lake Maggiore is by guest blogger Barbara from Il Mio Tesoro blog (photos are also provided by my guest)

Even though I have visited Lago Maggiore countless times, I had never navigated the northern part of the lake before this last trip. Some friends advised us to take the Cento Valli Tour offered by the Lago Maggiore Express. This “tour” combines a train ride in a panoramic coach through the beautiful Valle Vigezzo (which sits northwest of Lago Maggiore) with a boat ride throughout the lake. The train takes you steeply up the canyons high above the lake where you will see waterfalls and rushing rivers. Tiny, picturesque hill towns pop up everywhere. We made a stop at Santa Maria Maggiore, a cobblestoned small town with a lovely main square and beautifully decorated buildings. We visited a local delicatessen and had them make up some delicious panini which, along with a bottle of prosecco, became an impromptu picnic lunch at a local park!

The Cento Valli tour can be taken in both directions – you can either do the train first or the boat. It doesn’t matter and you end up seeing the same things. We decided to do the train first because we wanted to end the day with a relaxing tour on the lake. The train ride began in Baveno, but we didn’t actually board the Cento Valli panoramic train until Domodossola. We disembarked at the final stop of Locarno, at the northernmost tip of Lago Maggiore. Locarno is fairly large and busy, with some interesting sights. We didn’t have much time here, so we decided to only visit the main attraction – the beautiful church of La Madonna del Sasso,which sits at the top of a hill with a gorgeous view of Lago Maggiore. There is a funicular that takes you up to the church… but, if you are feeling energetic, you can also walk the entire way!

After spending a few hours in Locarno, we boarded the boat and began our journey back to Baveno. The boat ride took about 3 hours and we went past so many beautiful lakeside resorts – Cannobbio, Cannero, Intra, Pallanza and many others. We sat inside and outside, and enjoyed a glass of wine while cruising the calm lake. This was a memorable day and one that will remain with me forever.

Follow Il Mio Tesoro, the blog of Barbara!

The hike to Monte Crocione (1641 m / 5,384 ft) and Monte Tremezzo (1700 m / 5,577 ft) leaves from Alpe di Lenno which is at an altitude of 1496 m / 4,908 ft. To reach Alpe di Lenno by car, drive from the centre of Pigra towards Alpe di Colonno, then follow the signs for the Boffalora Refuge and finally head for Alpe di Ossuccio. Once you’ve arrived in Alpe di Lenno, park your car, as it is here that the walking starts.

The first part of the trail follows the route of military roads built during the First World War. Along this track, the remains of trenches and shelters used by Alpine troops can be seen to this day. After walking for about 20 minutes you will come to the Venini Rifugio.

After the refuge, you’ll come to a junction with a barrier. Do not go over the barrier. To reach Monte Tremezzo continue along the track until you reach a peak with a statue of the Virgin Mary on it. From the peak with the statue, you can walk along the ridge to Monte Crocione.

If, instead, you want to reach Monte Crocione more directly, at the junction with the barrier leave the track and take the path that leads up to Alpe di Mezzegra and then on to the derelict buildings of Alpe Tremezzo.

It takes around one and a half hours to walk to the summit of Monte Crocione.

Beginning on the 30th September, the Territori in cucina gastronomic event features 18 food and wine appointments which, after a pause in December, continue until March 2012. The event helps visitors get to know the cuisine of the area which lies around Cusio Mottarone and Valstrona: the Two Lakes Mountain Community.

On menus in local restaurants and eateries participating in the event will be authentic seasonal dishes made with traditional local ingredients.

These are the upcoming appointments:

November 18 – Taverna Antico Agnello in Miasino
November 19 – Il Rifugio in Granerolo, part of Gravellona Toce
November 25 – Osteria Vecio Veneto in Gabbio di Casale Corte Cerro
February 4 – Circolo San Pietro La Capannina in Grassona, a part of Cesara
February 10 – Albergo Ristorante Vittoria in Omegna
March 10 – Agriturismo La Masseria Rossi in Massino Visconti
March 16 – La Rampolina in Campino di Stresa

Meal prices vary from around €25 to €35 a head.

For more information, in Italian, on the location of participating restaurants and what is on their menus, visit the web site of Cusio Mottarone and Valstrona – Two Lakes Mountain Community.