One day trips from Milan without a car: Lecco-Bellagio, a boat trip
Lecco
"One arm of Lake Como turns off to the south between two unbroken chains of mountains, which cut it up into a series of bays and inlets…" Alessandro Manzoni
This boat route runs along the Lecco branch of Lake Como, with a departure from Lecco and arrival at Bellagio. You will find the boat schedule, which changes during the seasons, at [http://www.navigazionelaghi.it]. Lecco owes a good portion of its beauty to the great variety of landscapes, and to its unique position and morphological conformation. As a matter of fact it rises at the extreme south-east of the Adda, up to the Gerlate Lake, where the river begins. It is circumscribed to the north by Mount San Martino and to the east by Mount Resegone.
The historic center, characterized by a sober but elegant 18th cent. building of neo-Classical flavor still preserves traces of the Viscounts rule. The Torre Viscontea, of the first half of the 14th cent., today site of the Renaissance Museum, is all that remains of the Castle demolished together with the walls at the end of the 1700s.
Among the various palazzi, significant from an architectonic point of view are, Palazzo Belgioioso, of the '700s, seat of the municipal museums (naturalistic and archaelogic sections), and Villa Manzoni, it belonged to the writer's family up until 1818, and now property of the Commune. Here Manzoni spent long periods of his infancy and youth.
Abbadia Lariana
Setting off from Lecco the boat arrives at Abbadia Lariana, after a run that up until this first tract revels the great landscape difference of this branch of the lake when compared to that of Como. The mountain is more at the back of the lake, the colors and the conformations are more severe and harsh. Abbadia takes its name from a Benedictine complex of the 10th cent. of which remains only the Church of San Lorenzo, fronting onto the Lake and almost completely transformed during the years.
Mandello Lario
A very short distance away we reach Mandello Lario, one of the major centers of this eastern shore. Mandello gets it livelihood from tourism, industry, the motor field ( in 1921 the Moto Guzzi settled here) and the mechanics.
The small town still conserves the characteristic habitations with arcades of medieval style. To visit: the 18th cent. Parochial of San Lorenzo, remake of a Romanesque structure recognizable by the belfry; the Sanctuary of the Beata Vergine del Fiume ( Blessed Virgin of the River) in Baroque style, with the complex of the chapels of the Via Crucis, and some Liberty villas like Villa Falk.
We cross the Lake once again to the land at Onno, Vassena ad Limonta, hamlets of the commune of Oliveto Lario, on the territory where once olive grooves and vine-yards reigned.
The route ends then at Bellagio, from here it is possible to continue on with the other line.
Bellagio
Then the boat lands at Bellagio, at the top of the "Larian triangle", on the promontory that divides the Como branch from that of Lecco.
It is no mistake that Bellagio is called the "pearl" of Lake Como. It is undoubtedly the most famous resort on the lake. For centuries, its scenic location has enchanted artists and writers, not only from Italy, but also from abroad. It is situated on the tip of a headland that divides the lake into the two legs of Como and Lecco.
The town stretches along the coast and part of it goes up the slopes of the promontory.
Because of its location it has a great variety of views; indeed, it offers a good view of the whole lake. On the northern horizon one can see the Pre-Alps.
Some of the best views can be seen from the park of Villa Serbelloni and from the top of Monte San Primo. On a particularly clear day, one can make out the Alps, from Mont Blanc to the Ortles, and the Madonnina on top of the Duomo of Milan.
Both the historic center situated at a higher level dominated by the Romanesque Basilica Of San Giacomo (enlarged in the Baroque Age) and the more recent arcade lake-front are all preserved intact. Among the aristocratic villas let's remember Villa Serbelloni, first castle, then country residence and transformed into villa at the end of the 15th century. Later once again restructured in the 17th and turned into a hotel during the last decade of the 19th century, it is presently appointed headquarters of conventions and study tours.
The park - the lake's largest- extends all over the entire promontory to the small town's mount with a splendid view onto the two branches of the Lake. Viewing the lake is the Neo-classical Villa Melzi, from the extremely sober and elegant forms, realized between the 1808 and 1810 and based on Giacomo Albertelli's project for the Count Francesco Melzi, vice-president and Chancellor of the Kingdom of Italy.
Described by Stendhal, this noble residence as well had among its guests famous personalities: from the Emperors Francesco I and Ferdinand of Austria to the musician Liszt. Worthy of mention as well, Villa Trivulzio, built in the 18th century and restored a century later with its grand English-style park, and Villa Trotti, in its neo-Gothic remake with Moorish decorations and with rarities that enrich the park.
The North part of Lake Como by boat
From Bellagio you can proceed with the itinerary to visit by boat the North part of lake Como, reaching Colico. In alternative you can cross with Ferry to Varenna as follows.
Varenna
From Bellagio you can take the ferry that takes you to Varenna. The ferry runs every 30-50 minutes until 10PM.
The center, structured according to the design lay-out of Roman origin, and village fortified in the Middle Ages, still preserves town-planning and buildings of unique value. Here, in the nearby church of San Giorgio of the 14th century, later re-elaborated in the 17th -18th century, two tall villas rise.
Villa Isimbardi or dei Cipressi (of the Cypresses), 19th century reconstruction of an older building, with suggestive terraces and rows of Cypresses, and Villa Monastero, directly in fronted over the waters of the Lake, its name comes from the original all-women monastery active here between the '200 and '500, transformed later in residence in the second half of the 16th century at the request of Paolo Mornico.
Interesting not too far from Varenna, is Fumelatte (Milk River), hamlet of the same name as its characteristic stream, very short and foaming course, springs back to life every year in the Spring from a mountain grotto; it empties into the Lake after only 250 meters (it is matter of fact the shortest in Italy) and even Leonardo da Vinci in the Atlantic Code mentioned it.
From Varenna you can take the boat back to Lecco, or the Trenitalia train to go back to Lecco.
"One arm of Lake Como turns off to the south between two unbroken chains of mountains, which cut it up into a series of bays and inlets…" Alessandro Manzoni
This boat route runs along the Lecco branch of Lake Como, with a departure from Lecco and arrival at Bellagio. You will find the boat schedule, which changes during the seasons, at [http://www.navigazionelaghi.it]. Lecco owes a good portion of its beauty to the great variety of landscapes, and to its unique position and morphological conformation. As a matter of fact it rises at the extreme south-east of the Adda, up to the Gerlate Lake, where the river begins. It is circumscribed to the north by Mount San Martino and to the east by Mount Resegone.
The historic center, characterized by a sober but elegant 18th cent. building of neo-Classical flavor still preserves traces of the Viscounts rule. The Torre Viscontea, of the first half of the 14th cent., today site of the Renaissance Museum, is all that remains of the Castle demolished together with the walls at the end of the 1700s.
Among the various palazzi, significant from an architectonic point of view are, Palazzo Belgioioso, of the '700s, seat of the municipal museums (naturalistic and archaelogic sections), and Villa Manzoni, it belonged to the writer's family up until 1818, and now property of the Commune. Here Manzoni spent long periods of his infancy and youth.
Abbadia Lariana
Setting off from Lecco the boat arrives at Abbadia Lariana, after a run that up until this first tract revels the great landscape difference of this branch of the lake when compared to that of Como. The mountain is more at the back of the lake, the colors and the conformations are more severe and harsh. Abbadia takes its name from a Benedictine complex of the 10th cent. of which remains only the Church of San Lorenzo, fronting onto the Lake and almost completely transformed during the years.
Mandello Lario
A very short distance away we reach Mandello Lario, one of the major centers of this eastern shore. Mandello gets it livelihood from tourism, industry, the motor field ( in 1921 the Moto Guzzi settled here) and the mechanics.
The small town still conserves the characteristic habitations with arcades of medieval style. To visit: the 18th cent. Parochial of San Lorenzo, remake of a Romanesque structure recognizable by the belfry; the Sanctuary of the Beata Vergine del Fiume ( Blessed Virgin of the River) in Baroque style, with the complex of the chapels of the Via Crucis, and some Liberty villas like Villa Falk.
We cross the Lake once again to the land at Onno, Vassena ad Limonta, hamlets of the commune of Oliveto Lario, on the territory where once olive grooves and vine-yards reigned.
The route ends then at Bellagio, from here it is possible to continue on with the other line.
Bellagio
Then the boat lands at Bellagio, at the top of the "Larian triangle", on the promontory that divides the Como branch from that of Lecco.
It is no mistake that Bellagio is called the "pearl" of Lake Como. It is undoubtedly the most famous resort on the lake. For centuries, its scenic location has enchanted artists and writers, not only from Italy, but also from abroad. It is situated on the tip of a headland that divides the lake into the two legs of Como and Lecco.
The town stretches along the coast and part of it goes up the slopes of the promontory.
Because of its location it has a great variety of views; indeed, it offers a good view of the whole lake. On the northern horizon one can see the Pre-Alps.
Some of the best views can be seen from the park of Villa Serbelloni and from the top of Monte San Primo. On a particularly clear day, one can make out the Alps, from Mont Blanc to the Ortles, and the Madonnina on top of the Duomo of Milan.
Both the historic center situated at a higher level dominated by the Romanesque Basilica Of San Giacomo (enlarged in the Baroque Age) and the more recent arcade lake-front are all preserved intact. Among the aristocratic villas let's remember Villa Serbelloni, first castle, then country residence and transformed into villa at the end of the 15th century. Later once again restructured in the 17th and turned into a hotel during the last decade of the 19th century, it is presently appointed headquarters of conventions and study tours.
The park - the lake's largest- extends all over the entire promontory to the small town's mount with a splendid view onto the two branches of the Lake. Viewing the lake is the Neo-classical Villa Melzi, from the extremely sober and elegant forms, realized between the 1808 and 1810 and based on Giacomo Albertelli's project for the Count Francesco Melzi, vice-president and Chancellor of the Kingdom of Italy.
Described by Stendhal, this noble residence as well had among its guests famous personalities: from the Emperors Francesco I and Ferdinand of Austria to the musician Liszt. Worthy of mention as well, Villa Trivulzio, built in the 18th century and restored a century later with its grand English-style park, and Villa Trotti, in its neo-Gothic remake with Moorish decorations and with rarities that enrich the park.
The North part of Lake Como by boat
From Bellagio you can proceed with the itinerary to visit by boat the North part of lake Como, reaching Colico. In alternative you can cross with Ferry to Varenna as follows.
Varenna
From Bellagio you can take the ferry that takes you to Varenna. The ferry runs every 30-50 minutes until 10PM.
The center, structured according to the design lay-out of Roman origin, and village fortified in the Middle Ages, still preserves town-planning and buildings of unique value. Here, in the nearby church of San Giorgio of the 14th century, later re-elaborated in the 17th -18th century, two tall villas rise.
Villa Isimbardi or dei Cipressi (of the Cypresses), 19th century reconstruction of an older building, with suggestive terraces and rows of Cypresses, and Villa Monastero, directly in fronted over the waters of the Lake, its name comes from the original all-women monastery active here between the '200 and '500, transformed later in residence in the second half of the 16th century at the request of Paolo Mornico.
Interesting not too far from Varenna, is Fumelatte (Milk River), hamlet of the same name as its characteristic stream, very short and foaming course, springs back to life every year in the Spring from a mountain grotto; it empties into the Lake after only 250 meters (it is matter of fact the shortest in Italy) and even Leonardo da Vinci in the Atlantic Code mentioned it.
From Varenna you can take the boat back to Lecco, or the Trenitalia train to go back to Lecco.
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