Discover Como Lake with its extraordinary landscapes and its picturesque villages overlooking the lakefront!

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Discover Como Lake with its extraordinary landscapes and its picturesque villages overlooking the lakefront!

This tour, beyond allowing us to enjoy an amazing trip to Valtellina to discover its DOC wines and typical products, takes us to visit Bellagio, a small hamlet cut by narrow alleys studded by many handicraft shops and a stunning lakeside where strolling. Then, we'll also visit Cadenabbia with its unique Villa Carlotta, Menaggio, a village characterized by a central square full of coffees and shops and a suggestive lakeside with unique views. Afterwards, we'll move to Varenna and Lecco, famous for being the native city of Alessandro Manzoni. Finally, we'll discover Como with its fascinating urban design, ancient palaces, lively squares, picturesque alleys and a stunning lakeside where enjoying calm walkings, but also many monuments to visit and unmissable touristic sights.

Monia
Trip offered by Monia - Virtual Travel Spoken languages: Italian, English Travel expert in Italy

Trip summary

  • Travel style Tailor-made travel
  • Departure Bellagio
  • End Bellagio
  • Countries
    • Italy
  • City
    • Bellagio
  • Theme Romance
  • Accommodation Standard
  • Flight Excluded
  • Guide Included
  • The tour has met our highest standards

Detailed itinerary

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  • 1
    Bellagio
    Day 1

    Arrival in Bellagio in daytime, free time in the afternoon. Accommodation in the hotel and overnight.

    Visited places:
    • Bellagio
  • 2
    Bellagio - Cadenabbia - Menaggio - Varenna - Lecco
    Day 2

    Breakfast in the hotel and meeting with the guide to start the tour.

    At 9 am departure by boat for Cadenabbia, a district of Griante.

    Time available to visit the impressive Villa Carlotta and its park. This park is really charming, not only thanks to its panoramic location, but also for the different styles harmoniously mixed, the great quantity of essences, the evocative landscape. All this makes Villa Carlotta an unmissable destination for those who are discovering Lake Como and its surroundings.

    The wide Italian style garden with tall geometric-shaped hedges dates back to the VII century. It is full of parapets, balustrades, statues and water fountains. On the other hand, the English garden, full of exceptionally selected trees and breathtaking sceneries, belongs to the Romantic period. Finally, the garden architecture offered by the large rhododendrons is typical of the XIX century.

    At 11 am, at the end of the visit, the tour continues to Menaggio. It is a little village characterized by a central square studded by coffees and shops and defined by an amazing lakeside, which provides a unique landscape. Free time to relax, stroll and enjoy the views.

    At 12 pm the itinerary of the tour takes us to Varenna, where we'll visit its historic centre. The centre starts from Piazza San Giorgio, in front of the Church devoted to Saint George, the ancient Roman square, and reaches the lakeside passing through narrow alleys and evocative staircases.

    Bars, restaurants and shops stud the walkway, before the hanging pedestrian path on the lake starts. This latter is called "Lovers walk" and it will take us to the jetty, in the northern part of Varenna. Time available to enjoy lunch.

    At the end of the lunch, around 2.30 pm, the tour takes us to Lecco. Here, we'll enjoy free time to visit the city. Lecco is mainly known thanks to the novel "The Betrothed", the first Italian novel of Alessandro Manzoni. Anyway, Lecco is more than only "That branch of the lake of Como which extends southwards...". In fact, Lecco is also rich in history and culture, which can be discovered visiting the city museums. Strolling along the central alleys, it is possible to breathe in the neoclassic style belonging to Bovara. He left its elegant sign, which mixes itself with the remains of the old fortified hamlet, starting from the Azzone Visconti Bridge. Beyond all that, the most valuable aspect of Lecco is the amazing landscape it provides: a magical framework between the blue lake and the green mountains.

    At 5 pm we'll come back to Bellagio, passing through the scenic route coasting the right branch of Lake Como.

    Free time to enjoy dinner and overnight in the hotel.

     

    Visited places:
    • Bellagio
  • 3
    Bellagio - Sondrio
    Day 3

    Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Sondrio at 7 am, arrival around 9.30 am.

    Meeting with the guide at the Coffee of Sondrio railway station and departure for "Valtellina wine trail tour", a trip starting from Sondrio and arriving to Trevisto. It allows us to discover wine cellars and Valtellina typical products.

    On route we'll take a break and enjoy a 1-hour visit of Castel Grumello, a castle built in the XIII century located in the municipality of Montagna in Valtellina.

    Castel Grumello is an amazing example of twin castle, composed by two separate buildings, one military and one for residential use, surrounded by walls. The military unit is located to the East and boasted a defensive and sighting function, as proved by the imposing square-plant tower and the foundations of a second tower.

    At the end of the visit, around 11 am, we'll continue to Chiuro to enjoy a 1.30 hour tour together with an enologist. We'll visit a well-noted wine cellar and taste DOC wines served with local cold cuts and cheeses, it is also possible to buy fine and selected Valtellina wines.

    Then, the itinerary takes us to Tresivio, where we'll enjoy a typical lunch in a high-quality restaurant. It is possible to savor the traditional Pizzoccheri della Valtellina as well as the delicious bresaola, an unique local product.

    At the end of the lunch, around 3.30 pm, meeting and departure for Bellagio, arrival around 5.30 pm.

    Free time to dinner and overnight in the hotel.

    Visited places:
    • Bellagio
  • 4
    Bellagio - Como
    Day 4

    Breakfast in the hotel. Time available in the morning for shopping and visiting the viallge.

    Bellagio in undoubtedly one of the most beautiful tourist destinations, not only of Lake Como, but of the whole world. It is a small hamlet cut by alleys, studded by many craft boutiques and delimited by the lakeside, where it is possible to stroll and enjoy a 360° view of the Alpine peaks. Free time to enjoy lunch in Bellagio.

    At 2 pm meeting with the guide and departure for Como. Arrival around 3 pm.

    Once arrived in Como, tour around the city. This stunning city, lapped by Lake Como, boasts a captivating urban design, ancient palaces, lively squares, calm lakeside where to go strolling, but also many monuments to visit and unmissable tourist sights.

    Behind the Cathedral and the Alessandro Volta's Temple, worthwhile to be visit is Villa Olmo. It is one of the most beautiful neoclassic Italian villas. Its name comes from a big tree, the elm (Olmo). According to the legend, Pliny the Younger, one of the most well-known personalities of the city, planted an elm there.

    At the end of the visit, around 5 pm, departure for Bellagio. Arrival around 6 pm.

    Free time to enjoy dinner and overnight in the hotel.

    Visited places:
    • Bellagio
  • 5
    Bellagio
    Day 5

    Breakfast in the hotel and departure from Bellagio to your next destination.

    Visited places:
    • Bellagio
  • Prices and conditions

    Price includes
    • Driver/guide
    • Van/private car
    • Accommodation in a 4 stars hotel, B&B treatment
    Price does not include
    • Transfer from Milan Malpensa airport, Linate or Bergamo (available on request)
    • Tips
    • Extra
    • Everything not expressly specified in "Price includes"