Travel & Experiences

A weekend in Lake Como, Italy

Visitors walk the streets of Como, located at the western terminus of Lake Como, the lake's largest town. Attractions include a funicular, cathedral, villas and museums.

Visitors walk the streets of Como, located at the western terminus of Lake Como, the lake’s largest town. Attractions include a funicular, cathedral, villas and museums.   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

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Last spring, I visited Lake Como in northern Italy, about 50 miles north of Milan. The lake, shaped like a wishbone, is one of Europe’s deepest as well as one of its prettiest, luring the wealthy and famous for centuries. Hopping from ferry to ferry, I sampled a grab bag of towns on its western shores, including Tremezzo, Menaggio, Lenno and Como.

-- Jason La, Los Angeles Times

Como Cathedral

The impressive facade of Como Cathedral. Construction began in the late 14th century and was not completed until the 18th century.  (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Como funicular

Como’s funicular, which has operated since the late 19th century, ascends over 3,500 feet to the town of Brunate.   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Bellagio

The picturesque town of Bellagio, located at the point where Lake Como branches into two legs, features a wide variety of shops, charming walkways, markets and restaurants.   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Menaggio

The town of Menaggio, located north of Bellagio on Lake Como’s western shore.   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Restaurant, Hotel Bellavista, Menaggio

A sausage pizza, about $10, at Hotel Bellavista’s restaurant, which overlooks the water.   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Lake Como at dusk

Lake Como at dusk from Tremezzo, about three miles south of Menaggio.   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Villa Carlotta, Tremezzo

Tremezzo’s main attraction is Villa Carlotta, which features an impressive collection of paintings and sculptures, including works from Italian sculptor Antonio Canova.   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Villa Carlotta, Tremezzo

Villa Carlotta was built in the late 17th century and later given by Princess Marianne of the Netherlands to her daughter, Carlotta, the lakefront villa’s namesake, as a wedding gift. General admission is about $11.   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Villa Balbianello, Lenno

Villa Balbianello, located on a peninsula at the base of the town of Lenno, was built in the late 18th century. Several movies have been filmed here, including “Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones” and “Casino Royale.”  (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Villa Balbianello, Lenno

Tourists roam the grounds of Villa Balbianello.  (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Plinio restaurant, Lenno

The menu at Plinio restaurant in Lenno includes a variety of seafood dishes.   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Isola Comacina

Ruins of the Basilica of St. Euphemius attract visitors to Isola Comacina, an island located off the town of Sala Comacina. The church was built in the 11th century and destroyed in the 12th century.   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

Isola Comacina

An old birdhouse hangs from a tree on Isola Comacina.   (Jason La / Los Angeles Times)

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