Como

Perched on a wooded promontory that juts into Lake Como’s sapphire waters, Villa del Balbianello is the embodiment of Italian lakeside romance. The 18th‑century loggia, with its twin towers and terraced gardens cascading toward the shore, has framed countless cinematic moments—from James Bond’s recuperation in *Casino Royale* to Anakin and Padmé’s lakeside idyll in *Star Wars: Episode II*. Yet the villa’s soul belongs to its last private owner, the explorer Guido Monzino, who filled the interiors with maps, artifacts, and mementos from his expeditions to Everest and the poles. The gardens, a masterpiece of landscaping, blend formal box hedges with Mediterranean exotics, offering framed vistas of the Grigne mountains and Bellagio’s silhouette across the water. Arriving by private boat, as most visitors do, feels like slipping into a golden‑age film set.

Lake Como is the Riviera that never tries too hard: a glittering, Y‑shaped alpine lake framed by forested mountains and lined with pastel villages, terraced gardens, and Belle Époque villas where privacy is the ultimate luxury. From the water, the scenery unfolds like a series of perfectly composed postcards—snow‑dusted peaks shimmering above, palm trees rustling along the shore, and stately homes glimpsed through wrought‑iron gates. Bellagio’s cobbled lanes cascade down to the waterfront, while Varenna charms with its medieval fisherman’s quarter and the romantic Villa Monastero gardens. For centuries, the lake has lured poets, composers, and aristocrats, and today it remains a discreet playground for the international elite, yet still wonderfully accessible to curious travelers. A day on the lake might begin with a slow ferry ride toward central Tremezzo, stepping ashore to wander the remarkable gardens of Villa Carlotta; continue with a lakeside lunch under pergolas heavy with wisteria, the lake glittering beyond; and end with a quiet aperitivo in Cernobbio as the mountains blush violet in the fading light. Whether admired from a grand terrace or experienced in a small harbour at dawn, Lake Como belongs firmly in the canon of classic European landscapes—dramatic, serene, and quietly intoxicating.

Isola Bella is a baroque fantasy floating on the sapphire waters of Lake Maggiore, one of Italy’s most glamorous and romantic destinations. In the 17th century, Count Carlo III Borromeo transformed this rocky islet into a palatial summer residence, complete with a lavish Italianate garden that rises in ten terraces above the lake. The Palazzo Borromeo is a treasure trove of Flemish tapestries, gilded stuccowork, and period furnishings, while the garden bursts with citrus trees, camellias, and white peacocks that strut among the statues. From the upper terraces, the views across the lake to the Alps are nothing short of cinematic. Isola Bella epitomizes the grandeur of the Italian lakes—a place where aristocratic ambition met natural beauty to create something truly extraordinary. A short boat ride from the charming town of Stresa, it is an essential stop on any tour of northern Italy’s lake district.

A sacred way of the cross unfolds across the wooded slopes of Monte Velate, where 14 baroque chapels — each a miniature theater of painted terracotta statues — guide pilgrims toward the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte. The Via Sacra, a UNESCO World Heritage path, winds through chestnut forests and offers sweeping panoramas over the Lombard plain to the Alps. At the summit, the sanctuary’s golden dome crowns a complex of frescoed cloisters and a revered Black Madonna. It is a journey of art, faith, and nature, where every turn reveals a new vignette of devotion.

Perched like a sentinel above the sapphire waters of Lake Como, Castello di Vezio offers a spellbinding blend of medieval might and alpine grace. Its weathered stone walls, crowned with swallow‑tail merlons, have watched over Varenna since the 11th century, while the surrounding olive groves and chestnut woods soften its martial silhouette. Inside, the tower houses a compact but captivating exhibition on the region’s feudal past, and the rooftop terrace delivers a panorama that stitches together Bellagio’s promontory, the Grigne peaks, and the lake’s sinuous shoreline. A highlight for families is the falconry center, where trained raptors perform aerial displays against the backdrop of the Dolomites. The castle’s gardens, scented with lavender and rosemary, invite leisurely strolls, and the ‘Ghost Room’—a playful nod to local legend—adds a touch of whimsy. Whether you arrive via the steep cobblestone path from Varenna or the gentle shuttle bus, the ascent feels like stepping into a living tapestry of history and nature.

Commanding the southern shore of Lake Maggiore from a limestone crag, the Rocca di Angera is a layered chronicle of Lombard power — Lombard, Visconti, Borromeo — each dynasty adding towers, walls, and frescoed halls to the strategic nucleus. The castle’s crown jewel is the Sala di Giustizia (Hall of Justice), where a 13th-century fresco cycle by the Master of Angera depicts the virtues and vices of governance with startling psychological depth: Justice weighs souls, Prudence studies a mirror, Tyranny tramples the poor. The Borromeo family, who still own the fortress, have curated a remarkable Doll and Toy Museum in the restored wings — over a thousand pieces from the 18th century to the present, including automata that still move. From the tower’s parapet, the lake unfurls northward to the Alps, the Borromean Islands floating like emeralds in the blue.

Perched on a sun-drenched promontory overlooking Lake Maggiore, the Villa Taranto Botanical Gardens unfurl as a living masterpiece of horticultural artistry. Conceived in the 1930s by the visionary Scottish captain Neil McEacharn, these sixteen hectares transform the steep lakeshore into a symphony of colour and scent, where over 20,000 plant varieties from five continents thrive in a microclimate of rare benevolence. In spring, the avenues explode with a million tulips and azaleas; summer brings the intoxicating perfume of roses and eucalyptus; autumn sets the maples and ginkgos ablaze in gold and crimson. The gardens’ design is a study in romance—winding paths reveal sudden vistas of the Borromean Islands, while formal terraces and water gardens reflect the sky in sheets of still water. It is a place where botany meets poetry, and every turn feels like a curated revelation.