Lake Como is in the northern Italian Lakes District surrounded by mountains and hills lying between Milan and the border of Switzerland. It's southern tip is about 40km north of Milan.
  Lago di Como in Italian, is Italy's most popular lake and also its deepest. Lake Como is shaped like an inverted Y giving it a long perimeter. There are many beautiful villas and resort villages around the lake as well as hiking paths and boat trips.
  Lake Como is a romantic travel destination and great for photography and has been a popular destination since Roman times.

• Outdoor activities include cycling, mountain biking, hiking, sailing, paragliding and windsurfing. In the winter, you can ski in the nearby mountains.
• Cruises - there are some interesting cruises around the lake mainly on weekends in the summer

Towns
Como
The town of Como has many silk factories. Como also has a Silk Museum dating from 1900 where you can see the entire silk-making process. It has a railway station, shops, cinema, restaurants, dancing/discotheques, and historical attractions. The walled town of Como has a good historic center and lively squares with nice cafes.

Bellagio
Bellagio, known as the pearl of the lake, is in a beautiful setting. It is easy to get to by ferry from other towns on the lake. Bellagio lies right at the centre of the central lake. Poised at the far end of the promontory which divides the two branches of the lake, this magical town is surrounded by blue waters and green woods, blessed with a mild climate where time seems to stand still.

In the shops of Bellagio you can find the best of "Made in Italy". You can follow one of the numerous marked tracks up the hills and through the woods. At the top of Monte S.Primo (a 2-hour walk) you will be rewarded by an impressive panorama stretching from the Alps across the entire Po Valley.

Cernobbio
From Como, going north along the left shore, it's just a short drive to Cernobbio, whose old town features a delightful collection of picturesque houses and narrow alleys.

Domaso
Domaso is a pretty resort on the northern end of Lake Como. It is surrounded by mountains. Sailing and windsurfing are available here. The mountains have interesting excursions for mountain bikes. There are 2 windsurfing schools and 17 km away there is one of the most well-known golf courses in this area. Ski area at Madesimo is approx 40 km away.

Gera Lario
This village is situated on the extreme west side of the Lario area, not far from the mouth of the river Mera which, together with the river Adda, form Lake Como. Once a fisherman's village, it dates back to the Roman times. There are shops, grocers, bakers, post office, bank, restaurant, and bars.

Gravedona
Popular climatic health resort and pretty country town with around 3,000 inhabitants located in a small bay on the western banks of Lake Como. Beautiful excursions to Colico (15 km) or Chiavenna (25 km). Madesimo, 45 km, is ideal for skiing during the winter.

Lanzo Intelvi
Main resort of the Val d'Intelvi which was developed at the end of the 19th century. There are still several court houses visible plus villas in liberty style and the Roman church of San Siro. Plenty of walking nearby and on Mount Sighignola.

Lenno
Villa del Balbianello, in the village of Lenno, is also worth a visit and has some unusual treasures. The villa was used as a set for one of the Star Wars movies.

Menaggio
Menaggio, against the mountains, is a lively resort with a lakeside promenade. It is popular with outdoor enthusiasts for walking or hiking, swimming, windsurfing, and rock climbing. This picturesque holiday resort with its 3,200 inhabitants is on the western shore of Lake Como. Its mild climate and lovely position make it especially attractive to holidaymakers.

In Menaggio there is a golf course and a tennis court. Also ferries to other towns on the lake shore. The western shore has a particularly mild climate, and Menaggio has one of the prettiest promenades of the entire lake. On the shore of the lake there are water sports facilities, boat rental, sailing, windsurfing, and there are a number of scenic trekking routes that begin at the lake.

Villa Carlotta, south of Menaggio, has beautiful gardens. and original 18th century furniture and works of art.

Mezzegra
Small village on Lake Como, between Argegno and Menaggio. It has excursions around Lake Como, and good connections to Lake Lugano (18 km). Shops, restaurants, hiking, swimming pool, lido, water skiing, wind surfing, and fishing.

Tremezzo
This holiday resort has been famous since the end of the 19th century. Its most remarkable landmark is "Villa Carotta".

Varenna
The fishing village of Varenna has picturesque narrow alleyways and streets below a castle and a lakeside walking path. It is situated on the eastern shore of the lake Como. There are excursions by boat from here.

Vercana
District situated approx. 50 km north of Como, on the western shore of the lake. It comprises of different hamlets, sprinkled along the Livo river, on the slopes of Pizzo Sasso Canale, which overlooks Lake Como. From Vercana, there is a superb panoramic view of the lake and the mountains, with the northern alps and the Monte Legnone to the east.

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