In Italy, when the temperature rises too high, making town centres insupportable and fresh air irresistible, the Italians know what to do. Rich and poor, young and old, observe the grand Italian tradition of heading out of town in summer and at weekends.
Weekends of sunbathing, beach volleyball, cycling or hiking are just some examples of what makes life in Italy so desirable. And there's no lack of suitable locations. A long thin country, with a spine of mountains and a northern Alpine region, in Italy the sea or the mountains are never too far away. But the Italians are also blessed with a third option: the peninsula's many lakes. The most well known cluster of these is the northern lakes that have for centuries been the playground of the Milanese.
Along with Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore, Lake Como is a truly Romantic place. Early tourist William Wordsworth called Como "a treasure which the earth keeps to itself". Well, everyone knows about it now, and it's as busy as any other tourist hot spot during the summer, but it's charm is still much in evidence.
The idyllic lake is overlooked by the snow-peaked Alps, and flanked by wooded slopes, so the colour of the water is infused not just with the blueness of the sky, but also with the rich green of the trees. The banks are dotted with large, elegant waterfront houses, evidence of centuries of pleasure-taking on the lake. These include the 18th century Villa Olmo, and 19th century Villa Cipressi whose terraced gardens spill down into the lake. Most luxurious is the 16th century Villa D'Este, now a top-flight hotel with a swimming pool that floats on top of the lake, and a helipad to solve those awkward traffic problems.
Links
Un Tratto di Lago
A personal picture gallery of beautifully atmospheric images of Lake Como.
Villa Olmo
The house of Villa Olmo, with plans of the main floors, and photographs of some of the beautiful artefacts.
Villa D'Este
Take a photo tour of the fabulous Villa D'Este, with information on booking your stay and views of the plush facilities.
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Milanese retreat, Lago di Como