May 29th, 2012 Published by: laudamus

1

Italian Lake

Holidays

http://www.lakecomoguide.com Anyone up for a little adventure travel will enjoy this article about some of the many fun things to do on an Italian lake holiday.

Things to do in Lake Como, Italy

for a fun holiday. May 29th, 2012

Besides exploring the many charming towns around the lake

we have listed a variety of natural things to do in Lake Como, Italy. There are plenty of opportunities for fun and adventure,

sightseeing and exploring...and the lake is a true paradise for sports enthusiasts. The lake turns into sports city as soon as

the weather turns warm!

And of course we haven't forgotten your kids...there are special

places in Lake Como just for them!

Lake Como has great adventurous natural trails that lead to beautiful destinations in the mountains and by the lake.

Follow the trails by the lakesides in each town and discover hidden pebbled-beaches with clear blue waters. Most hotels

have bike rentals, inquire within.

Although many Lake Como hotels will rent you a bike, you can

also rent mountain bikes from various shops in the north such as the Windsuring Center in Domaso where the space to

actually ride is more plentiful. Rates range from 10 - 30 EUR

per hour depending on your choice of bike.

Note: We highly don't recommend biking on the main roads

or through tunnels as they are too narrow and very dangerous.

Visit http://www.lakecomoguide.com for more information.

Boat Rental

Boat rentals are a fun way to explore Lake Como's villas and

churches which would otherwise be impossible to see from the road. You can rent a 40 HP boat without a license and expect

to pay at least 75 Euros an hour. Gas is included in the price. There are boat rental companies in Cernobbio in the south,

and in Dongo, Domaso, Gera Lario, and Sorico in the north.

There is no motorboat rental company in Como, Italy.

There are also private companies in Bellagio and Menaggio

which do boat tours on the lake. They start at around 60 euros

per hour which can be quite cost-effective if you are traveling with a group. Canoes are much cheaper starting at 19 EUR per

hour for a single. From the lake, they can show you up close the many interesting villas such as Villa Balbianello, Villa Erba

and Villa D'Este as well as private villas owned by the Versace

family or the Villa Rosa which once hosted Sir W. Churchill.

Those who like to paddle can also rent kayaks and rowboats in Bellagio (ask at one of the piers) and those who are interested

in water-skiing and wake boarding can check out Domaso's

Canottieri www.canottieridomaso.it

This Italian lake has become renowned for its cooking school

for professionals and amateurs alike.

The most luxurious one is in Villa D'este...http://

www.theinternationalkitchen.com/deste.htm Then there's also the Gianni Brera in

Como...http://www.centrocasnati.eu/

For a fun couples activity, why not try a lunchtime cooking

course offered by Ristorante Il Caminetto?

With so much water, Lake Como has wonderful places to fish. The main fishing season occurs in the late summer as fish

spawn between the end of July and beginning of September.

This is the time when you will see many of Lake Como's famous Lucia fishing boats out on the lake.

You need to get a fishing license from one of the local

provincial offices. It will cost about 20 Euros.

Lake Como has many golf courses which can be easily reached

by car the closest being an 18 hole, par 70 course in Menaggio

(0344/32103). Most of the other Lake Como golf courses will

require a 10km - 20km drive from Como, Italy.

Here is a list of golf courses located nearby Como, beginning

with the name of the town, type of course and phone number.

You can use our interactive map to get driving directions.

• Appiano Gentile, 18 hole, par 70, 031/933202

May 29th, 2012 Published by: laudamus • Carimate, 18 hole, par 71, 031/790226

• Lanzo Intelvi, 9 hole, par 68, 031/839060

• Cassina Rizzardi, 36 hole, par 72, 031/928055

• Montorfano, 18 hole, par 69, 031/200200

• Grandola ed Uniti, 18 hole, par 70, 0344/32103

The Villa D'Este golf course in Montorfano is considered one

of the most challenging and difficult par 69's in Europe, even though several amateur competitions take place there each

year. The club house overlooks several holes and offers a

spacious view of the Montorfano lake.

The Menaggio and Cadenabbia golf course, located about 5km

up the mountain from Menaggio in Grandola ed Uniti, is one

of Europe's oldest golf courses retaining its English old-world charm to this day. It was founded by four British gentleman

who came up with the idea during a meeting at Hotel Victoria

in 1907.

Most golf courses are open year-round but be sure to check

their schedule as they may be closed on odd days of the week.

Horseback Riding There are three places which offer horseback riding for the

equestrian enthusiasts. One is in the mountains nearby Bellagio (about 7.5 km away) run by the Cavalcario Club , the

other two are North of Colico in the beautiful nature reserve of Pian di Spagna which separates Lake Como from the small

northern Lake of Mezzola.

They have qualified trainers who can help out beginners as

well as provide interesting, guided tours of the area. You can usually rent out a horse by the hour or for the day.

Hiking

There are ample opportunities for hiking in Lake Como

ranging from simple, peaceful lakeside strolls to steep mountain paths offering amazing panoramic views of the lake.

The most popular mountain hike leads up to Monte Grona

nearby Menaggio, where you can drive up to Breglia (6km from Menaggio - follow the signs toward Lugano, Switzerland)

and then hike up to the peak located at 1736 meters. There are

also rock-climbing opportunities there.

There are two cable-cars in Lake Como, one in Como taking you to Brunate (altitude: 700 meters) and one in Argegno

taking you up to Pigra (altitude: 881 meters).

Some of the more challenging hikes include the Grigne

mountains around Lecco, with paths beginning in Mandello del Lario and Lecco reaching altitudes of over 2400 meters

and the Legnone mountains around Colico which reach 2600 meters. There are also trails with special exercise equipment

scattered throughout such as the "Percorso della Salute"

located 1 km up the mountain from Menaggio.

For kids, Jungle Raider Park is a fun adventure park for kids and adults offering obstacle courses amidst in Piano Rancio

near Civenna about 12 km up the mountain from Bellagio.

Those who like extreme sports will enjoy jumping off of Mount Nuvolone (600 meter drop) on a two-seat para glide. Inquire

from within Bellagio, as the company provides a shuttle

service from Bellagio to Mount Nuvolone or view their website at the Calvacario Club Another place a little more north near

Bellano is Free Air Adventure.

The biggest and best playground for children is located in Mandello del Lario which is about 10 km north of Como in an

area called Lido. It has a coast guard, a classic horse carousel,

and a big playground within a charming park...all designed with children in mind. It can get quite crowded on weekends.

Lake Como is a sailor's paradise. The Tivano and Breva winds

which blow from the South create ideal conditions for sailing.

Private lessons start at 50 EUR an hour including the cost of

the kit and the rate goes down quite a bit if you prepay an entire course.

Check out our favorite Towns page for detailed guides to each

town on Lake Como.

The highlights of the lake are the following attractions:

Villas...

• Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, stunning botanical garden.

• Villa D'Este in Cernobbio, 5-star grand hotel best seen

from the lake.

• Villa Balbianello in Lenno, home of the famous Arctic

explorer, Monzino.

• Villa Melzi in Bellagio, one of the most beautiful parks

• Villa Manzoni in Lecco, the birthplace of 19th-century

Italian novelist and Lake Como hero, Alessandro Manzoni.

Attractions...

May 29th, 2012 Published by: laudamus • Orrido Gorge in Bellano, Lake Como's little grand

canyon

• Motto Guzzi Museum in Mandello del Lario, a tour

through Lake Como's famous motorbike factory

• Castle of Vezio in Varenna, the 7th century Queen

Theolinda (queen of Lombard) stayed here.

• Planetarium in Lecco, fantastic shows in deep space

astronomy

Shopping Shopping in Lake Como offers you just about anything you

could possibly wish for. Shops and boutiques in Lake Como have as much character and elegance as the individual towns

themselves.

Whether you are looking for shoes, leather, wallets, handbags,

artwork, unique gifts and local crafts you are sure to find it. With Milan so close-by, you are also sure to find designer-line

clothing such as Gucci, Versace, Armani and Prada.

Although the top shopping centers focus around Como,

Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna, many times the local churches will host the exhibition of a local artist. We found an

amazing watercolor painter in a small church in Lenno, who

gave us a great discount!

Many towns also host a street market on certain days of the

week, where you can buy merchandise at discounted rates.

They make their presence very well known - you can't miss them!

Tours Why not hire a guide to take you around the lake to explore

some its historical gems and best scenic viewpoints? Often this can be booked directly with your hotel, or your hotel can direct

you to private companies which offer them.

Often these companies can pick you up from the hotel or even

the airport, and guide you all around the lake, complete with walking tours through the town centers, ferry boat rides,

delicious meals and even evening entertainment.

If you book your holidays in Como with Inghams (UK-based),

they can offer you a convenient and interesting excursion throughout the northern Italian lakes including Lake Como,

Lake Iseo and Lake Garda.

Swimming

Swimming is best done in the northern towns like Domaso and

Gravedona where there are more beaches available and more

space available for people to go on those beaches! It also has

the cleanest water because it is close to the Adda River which

fills up the lake.

Unfortunately, due to neglect and heavy industry, the

southern towns are not suitable for swimming due to water pollution. Filters are continuously being installed and thanks

to new EU laws regarding water pollution, Italy is slowly

cleaning up this problem.

Remember, the water in Lake Como drains from North to

South since the Adda river is located in the north.

The northern towns have swarms of people bathing in the

summer, as it allows people to cool off from the hot temperatures, and the beautiful surroundings can make you

feel like you are somewhere in the Caribbean!

Of course, you can always stay at one of the Lake Como luxury

hotels which have the unique, outdoor, floating swimming pools, or try any of the other Lake Como hotels or public

grounds that have indoor/outdoor pools such as the

"Giordano" in Menaggio.

If all you're after is the 'beach-bum lifestyle', there are plenty

of pebble-stoned beaches scattered throughout the lake that

will allow you to sit by the water and listen to the relaxing sound of crashing waves. The best ones are at Punta

Spartivento (the very edge of the promontory at Bellagio), at Villa Olmo near Como, in Bellano just north of Varenna and

all the other Northern towns such as Gravedona, Domaso and

Colico.

Domaso on the western shore and Dervio on the eastern shore are the capitals of windsurfing and kitesurfing in Lake Como.

We've dedicated another page to windsurfing. They are both

located in the northern part of the lake since the northern part has more space and the best wind conditions. Lake Como also

hosts windsurfing championships in this area. The Jolly Racing Club in Lezzeno near Bellagio offers wakeboarding

instruction and also rents out jet-skis per minute with a

discount for members.

With good coaching and favorable conditions, the basic skills of sailing, steering, and turning of windsurfing can be learned

within a few hours.

Visit http://www.lakecomoguide.com for more information