Arrival:
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.