In 1818, the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote, “This lake exceeds anything I ever held in beauty.” He was talking about Lake Como, and from the high and mighty of the Roman Empire to modern superstars like George Clooney and Madonna, the rich and famous have long been inspired by its stunning natural splendor.
A Storybook Setting
Some places simply have to be seen to be believed, and Lake Como is filled with them. The Y-shaped lake, one of the deepest in Europe, is nestled beneath the Alps and boasts a gorgeous subtropical microclimate that means visitors can sip cappuccino beneath wisteria and palm trees or relax on the beach while gazing across the water at majestic, snow-capped mountains. The surreally gorgeous scenery led The Huffington Post to name Lake Como the most beautiful lake in the world in 2014.
There is no shortage of man-made beauty to be found, either. Lake Como is surrounded by villages, each with their own unique character. These villages are home to magnificent villas, and while most of the villas themselves are not open to the public, their spectacular Italian Renaissance-style gardens certainly are.
You can easily travel between villages by car, but Lake Como has a robust ferry system that tempts visitors to spend a day on the water, leisurely drifting from one postcard-perfect village to the next. You can journey back through 2,000 years of history in the walled city of Como, indulge in a decadent meal by lantern light in Bellagio, take a passeggiata along the lakeside promenade in Menaggio, or hop a funicular up to Brunate for a panoramic vista that will leave you breathless.
It’s no wonder that when the James Bond, Star Wars, and Ocean’s franchises needed settings that radiated luxury, class, and beauty, they all turned to Lake Como.