Lago di Como, also known as Lake Como in English, has served as a holiday retreat since Roman times. Located in Lombardy, the picturesque alpine lake is one of the deepest in Europe. It is also one of the continent’s most beautiful lakes.

Sights

There are several lakeside villas and palaces along Lago di Como that provide a great opportunity to admire and photograph the lake. The neoclassical Villa Olmo in Como features pretty lakeside gardens, while Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo has a museum and an Italian-style garden. Other stunning villas include Villa Serbelloni, Villa del Balbianello and Vila Melzi d’Eril, which has a fine park with a Japanese garden and an orangery.

The Sacro Monte di Ossuccio is a hillside sanctuary nestled between olive groves and woodland. Located on the western edge of the lake, the site includes 15 chapels built in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the sanctuary’s Baroque-style chapels are dedicated to the Mysteries of the Rosary.

Activities

Lago di Como is a popular destination for sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Several towns have sailing and surfing schools. On land, there are a number of mountain routes that start from Menaggio, Dongo and other towns. Walking trails provide unforgettable views of the lake and surrounding mountains. There are also footpaths along the lakeshore. To experience the beauty of Lago di Como with less physical excursion, visitors can enjoy a ride on one of the ferries that links the small towns and villages around the lake.