Category: Uncategorized

The Greenway is a popular bicycle and pedestrian path that stretches along the western shores of Lake Como in Lombardy.

The route follows a scenic 11.2-kilometre route and connects several municipalities along the lake, offering spectacular views of the surrounding waters and mountains.

The duration of the tour clearly depends on the speed used, the stops one decides to make and the time spent visiting the many places of interest. In general, it is reasonable to expect a total time of about three and a half hours.

Now that we understand what the Greenway is and how long it is, let’s see what its main stops are, where you can stop and explore the various points of interest.

The 7 stages of the route

1. The Greenway starts in the characteristic village of Colonno, which is located on the western shore of Lake Como. Here you can admire the typical colourful houses, strolling through the picturesque streets.
   
2. Continuing along the route, we arrive at the charming village of Sala Comacina: this stage offers wonderful panoramic views of the lake and a peaceful atmosphere.
   
3. The third stop, Ossuccio, is where you will find some of the most famous sights, such as Isola Comacina, the only island on Lake Como, and the magnificent Santuario Madonna Del Soccorso, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
   
4. Continuing on, you arrive at Lenno, a charming village with the famous Villa del Balbianello complex, one of the most beautiful villas on Lake Como.
   
5. Mezzegra is another delightful village along the way, characterised by narrow streets and a pleasant lakeside atmosphere.
   
6. On its sixth and penultimate stop, the Greenway also takes us to Tremezzo, a place known for its beauty and the famous Villa Carlotta, a charming residence with a magnificent garden.
   
7. Finally, the last stop is Griante, a fascinating and evocative place, where you can enjoy further breathtaking panoramic views of the lake.

Must-see places along the Greenway

One of the places not to be missed is Villa Carlotta: located between Menaggio and Tremezzo, it is a majestic historic villa renowned for its spectacular botanical garden, which covers some 70,000 square metres and houses a wide variety of exotic and local plants.

The gardens are arranged in panoramic terraces, with magnificent views of Lake Como and the surrounding mountains. The villa also serves as a museum, exhibiting works of art by famous artists, including sculptures by Antonio Canova and paintings by Francesco Hayez.

Not to be outdone is Villa del Balbianello, a magnificent residence located on the tip of the Lavedo peninsula.

The location is close to the village of Lenno, and can be reached by land or by lake. This privileged position offers a unique panoramic view.

The villa is famous for its beautiful terraced gardens, rich in flowers, exotic plants and statues. The main building is an imposing structure dating back to the 18th century and was built on a site that originally housed a Franciscan monastery.

Set for several films, including “Casino Royale” from the James Bond series and “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones”, it is now owned by the Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI) and is open to the public for guided tours.

Finally, Isola Comacina, a fascinating natural island, the only one on Lake Como, is also worth a visit.

Its wild, unspoilt nature and fascinating historical artefacts, such as the remains of the ancient basilica of Sant’Eufemia, attracts lovers of history, culture and nature in equal measure.

The island can only be reached by water, and many tourists opt to take a boat from the port of Como or other surrounding villages to reach it. As a place of great historical and scenic interest, it is also the venue for cultural events and festivals, which attract visitors from all over the world.

Tips for tackling the Greenway

To get to Colonno, the first stop on the Greenway, take the Strada statale 340 Regina or take the ASF Line C10 (Como-Menaggio-Colico), the stop of which is a short walk from Via Luigi Civetta, the point where the route begins.

It is advisable to park your car along Via Cappella in Colonno. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays parking is chargeable, at a cost of €5 for the whole day. It is possible to rent bicycles or opt for a relaxing walk.

Ultimately, what is the Greenway? A clever way to promote sustainable tourism and allow visitors to enjoy the area’s natural beauty and cultural attractions. An itinerary that allows visitors to admire ancient villages, historic villas, lush gardens and amazing landscapes. An unforgettable experience through one of the most beautiful and fascinating places in Italy.

Would you like to visit any specific location during your stay on Lake Como or would you like advice on the most beautiful places to visit?Our reception is available to help you with all the information you need.

Travelling is one of many people’s favourite activities and often, to be able to enjoy a few days of adventure or culture, it is not even necessary to travel too far. Italy has many wonderful places to visit that can offer us ample entertainment, from north to south.

One of these is Lake Como, one of the most fascinating places in Lombardy, where nature blends with art and architecture, creating a unique and timeless landscape.

The ancient villas overlooking the waters of the lake, the parks and gardens are excellent for enjoying a romantic stroll, or simply to breathe some fresh air in a place so bewitching that it has even attracted many celebrities.

But for those who only have a day to spare, what is not to be missed about this enchanting place? What is the most beautiful place on Lake Como?

Volta Temple and Volta Museum in Como

On the shores of the lake, you can find this small Palladian-style temple. It was built in 1927 and houses the Volta Museum of Como, dedicated to Alessandro Volta.

Built on two floors, the temple houses objects, instruments and memorabilia dedicated to this great historical figure. The structure was erected by architect Federico Frigerio, who was inspired by the Roman Pantheon and neoclassical art.

The museum is definitely a must-see, not only for its timeless beauty that blends perfectly with the surrounding mountain landscape, but also for the historical and cultural heritage it represents.

The walk of the villas on Lake Como

Como is famous for many attractions, and one of them is the “passeggiata delle ville”. This is a walkway along the western shore of the bay, where numerous villas were built between 1700 and 1800.

Among the most prominent are Villa Scacchi-Carminati, built in 1787 by architect Felice Soave. Continuing on, you will come across Villa Saporiti, now the seat of the Province, where Napoleon Bonaparte, Queen Isabella of Naples and Prince Ferdinand I of Austria once stayed.

Further on, still belonging to the Province, is Villa Gallia, built to house countless portraits of illustrious men by Paolo Giovio. Continuing on, you will then have the chance to admire Villa Parravicini Revel and finally the very famous Villa Olmo.

The latter was built by architect Simone Cantoni and passed from hand to hand, first to the noble Raimondi family, then to the Visconti di Modrone family and finally to the Municipality of Como. Even its frescoed rooms once hosted great historical figures such as Bonaparte, Ugo Foscolo and Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Piazza del Duomo and Broletto Palace

Continuing along the lakefront, you can then reach Piazza del Duomo, a place rich in history and noteworthy monuments that will leave you speechless.

Starting with the town hall, called the Broletto, which was built in 1215: this has a beautiful Gothic façade with polychrome marble bands.

Consisting of a single block with a rectangular plan, the palace is a priceless medieval testimony, built at the behest of the podestà Bernardo da Codazo.

The neoclassical Teatro Sociale and the former Casa del Fascio (House of the Fascist Party) can also be found in the square, while the wonderful Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta stands out behind it.

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

The Duomo of Como is famous for the wonder it inspires in all its visitors, especially from the moment you enter the square, when you immediately see its imposing façade.

Built in the Gothic style, the entire building took about 400 years to complete and numerous modifications were made before arriving at the final result.

A colpire di più è sicuramente l’imponente facciata, ma anche l’interno merita di essere visitato, avendo in custodia arazzi del XVI e XVII secolo e quadri cinquecenteschi di Bernardino Luini e Gaudenzio Ferrari.

The most striking feature is certainly the imposing façade, but the interior is also worth a visit, housing 16th and 17th century tapestries and 16th century paintings by Bernardino Luini and Gaudenzio Ferrari.

Como-Brunate Funicular

What is most fascinating about this city is its location and the environment that surrounds it: Como is, in fact, nestled between the mountains, mirrored in a beautiful lake, where art and nature fit together perfectly.

For this reason, the Como-Brunate funicular railway can be an excellent arrival point after a walk along the lakeside promenade. It is a one-kilometre ride that takes a total of seven minutes and leads to the village of Brunate, high above the hill.

Here there is a marvellous viewpoint that will allow you to see the entire town from above.

Brunate and the Volta lighthouse

Brunate is a famous hilltop village that offers an incredible vantage point, but it is also a beautiful place to visit. It was the holiday resort of the Como people in the 19th century and numerous villas can also be visited and found here.

From its panoramic terrace, it is possible to have a complete view of the Po Valley, the Apennines and the western Alpine arc.

Walking uphill, it is finally possible to reach the Volta lighthouse: a building constructed in honour of the death of Alessandro Volta and which falls sheer to the lake.

Piazza San Fedele

Piazza del Duomo is undoubtedly the one that sticks out most in the memory of tourists in Como, but Piazza San Fedele is also worth a visit. It was once occupied by the Roman Forum, inside which the market was held until the 19th century.

Numerous picturesque palaces, but above all the Basilica di San Fedele, the city’s most beautiful church after the Duomo, can be seen here.

Porta Torre

Continuing the walk from Piazza San Fedele, it is possible to arrive at Porta Torre, famous for its military architecture in the Romanesque tradition. It is a large fortification with a massive appearance, about 40 metres high, facing towards Milan.

The part facing the city, on the other hand, has a lighter façade, with four orders of archways corresponding to the four floors of the structure. A great peculiarity of the tower are the eight arches on the upper floors placed off-axis from the single, large one on the ground floor.

Not too far away are the other towers characteristic of Como and built after Porta Torre: the San Vitale tower and Torre Gattoni.

If you would like more information on what to visit in Como in a day, ask the reception desk for help: we will be able to advise you with the attractions most in line with your tastes and the time you have available to visit them.