THE ITALIAN’ HEAVEN – LAKE COMO travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Lake Como lies between Milan and the border of Switzerland. It’s southern tip is about 40km north of Milan. The lake covers an area of 146 sq km and it’s surrounded by both high mountains and hills, beautiful villas and resort villages and raging torrents and big rivers. Lake Como (Lago di Como in Italian), is a jewel-like oasis of tranquility, a magical combination of lush Mediterranean foliage and snowy alpine peaks.

Lake Como is shaped like of an inverted “Y” which was caused by glaciers moving through the valley. In the middle of the lake where the two arms of the “Y” converge, sits Bellagio, often referred to as the jewel of the lake and also as one of the most romantic of all the towns of Italy.

Visitors ever since have admired the blue waters and relaxed in luxurious villas in the wooded lakeside slopes above. Probably the most famous one is Villa Carlotta, a perfect combination of luxurious interiors (beautiful stuccos, lovely ceiling frescoes and a great art collection) and luxuriant exteriors (over 500 species of plants, trees and shrubs from all over the world). You can sample some of the best cuisine in Italy, with mouth-watering dishes like “risotto con pesce persico” made from the lake’s fish. (mmmmm!)

Most of the towns around the shores of Lake Como offers opportunities for every kind of sport, such as windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, water-skiing, golfing, horse-riding, camping, mountain biking, hiking, boating, paragliding. In the winter, you can skiing in the nearby mountains. There are some interesting cruises around the lake on commercial boats, mainly on weekends in the summer season.