Bellagio

There are few places as romantic as Lake Como, and even fewer lakeside towns as charming as Bellagio. Called "the Pearl of Lake Como", Bellagio is a perfect destination for a relaxing vacation with pizzazz and enchanting panoramas.

Bellagio is situated in a picturesque position on Lake Como, on the tip of the promontory which juts into the lake and separates it into two branches, with Como to the west and Lecco to the east. The town has always had an aristocratic dignity, and has drawn respite seekers for centuries. It has an elegant air yet with the water sports and mountain activities, is not a stuffy place, either.

The most ancient part of Bellagio occupies that area at the end of the promontory and is known as 'the Borgo'. It is a pretty combination of stairways lined with colorful shops with the finest quality merchandise and excellent restaurants, little piazzas and sidewalk cafes. Numerous little characteristic hamlets are scattered both along the lake and the hilly slopes above the Borgo, and there are walking paths connecting them. Arcades with shops below, flower boxes, decorative iron balconies and cobbled lanes make for an attractive atmosphere. Bellagio retains Old World appeal.

Because it has been a getaway for wealthy dignitaries, there are many villas around the town, some with spectacular gardens. Don't miss Villa Melzi's garden with scultpures and the park of Villa Serbelloni. A scenic spot you'll want to visit is Punt Spartivento, literally "divide the wind" where the promontory comes to a point in the lake. Stop for a drink in the warm wood-laid historic Caffe Rossi, which retains the fittings and charm of a by-gone age, with tables under the arcade. The Museum of Navigational Instruments is an interesting stop, and there are plenty of water sports, boat trips and hikes in the hills to enjoy, too. A tourist train lets you see a bit further afield, or you can catch a ferry to Varenna for a day.

Bellagio is a strategic starting point for seeing the entire lake. Thanks to public transportation, including boats, ferry or hydrofoil, from Bellagio you will possibly visit the most romantic parts of Lake Como, with its towns and unique historic villas with magnificent gardens.