LAKE COMO

Travel in Italy is not without its challenges, or it would not be Italy. The day we were planning to go from Milan to Como, there was a train strike. We hired a car which of course was much more expensive than our train tickets, but it was comfortable and actually worked out well because it was a rainy day and it would have been challenging to drag our suitcases to and from the train station or secure a taxi or taxis given that we were four people with luggage. The regional train company sent a link and we were eventually able to secure refund for our tickets.

Como is a picturesque city located in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, near the Swiss border. It is most renowned for its stunning setting on the shores of Lake Como, one of Italy’s most beautiful and celebrated lakes. On entering the historic part of the city, the buildings are mostly old palazzios that have been converted to apartments with undulating cobblestone streets. The streets are immaculate. By the time we were done checking into our Airbnb, which was stunning and more later on that in a separate post, we relaxed for a bit as we had a tour planned fort the next day and only ventured out into the rain for dinner.

The next day, we met our guide Melissa N. from ToursByLocals for a 3-hour "Highlights of Como" tour. Like all the previous guides we hired, Melissa was well informed, filled us with interesting tidbits and we enjoyed our time with her. When planning tours, I like to space out our days to give us time to chill and not feel rushed.

Lake Como is famed for its dramatic scenery, with deep blue waters surrounded by lush hills and snow-capped peaks. The city of Como itself sits at the southern tip of the lake, offering spectacular views and easy access to the lake’s tranquil atmosphere.

Our first excursion was to take the Brunate funicular from Como up to the alpine village of Brunate. The trip took all of about 10 minutes and Brunate is 700 meters above sea level with stunning panoramic views of Lake Como. There are two trains that run on the track with one ascending and the other descending, acting as counterweights.

Once back down in the City, we visited the Duomo di Como aka Como Cathedral.

A magnificent Gothic-Renaissance cathedral located in the city center, known for its intricate façade and impressive interiors. Construction began in 1496 and it was not finished until 1770.

Porta Torre is a medieval stone tower dating back to the 12th century, part of the old city walls.

Broletto, the ancient town hall, sits adjacent to the cathedral; its architecture represents a blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles.

On our second day in Como, we decided to explore the lake to experience its beauty. After researching various boat tours on Lake Como, we found them to be quite expensive. Instead, we chose to take a ferry that would stop at several small towns and take us to Bellagio for lunch.

The weather had cleared, offering blue skies with fluffy clouds, though it was a bit windy and the water was choppy, but not enough to cause seasickness. The waterfront homes and villages were a mix of magnificent and charming. The journey from Como to Bellagio took about 90 minutes.

Our guide from the previous day advised us to buy our return ferry tickets once we reached Bellagio. This led to another Italian-style transportation adventure. When I reached the ticket window, the agent informed me that they were uncertain about running any return ferries due to the weather and advised checking back in a couple of hours. We were shocked that they hadn't warned us about the possibility of being stranded. After lunch, we returned only to be told to check again in another hour. We looked into hiring a car, an Uber, or a bus, but none were available. Luckily, they did run a ferry back to Como, and it was a hydrofoil that got us back in less than an hour. Phew! Bellagio was lovely, a bit more crowded and touristy than Como. We would have skipped it if we had known how uncertain the return journey would be.

For our third day in Como, originally I had considered that we should go on a hike. There is a trail that runs along the western ridge of the lake called the Greenway, but given the transportation challenges we had been experiencing, we opted for some retail therapy and just chilled on our last day. Como is a delightful blend of natural beauty, historical treasures, and modern Italian culture. We found it to be a nice and relaxing way to end our 3 week tour of northen Italy.