Lake Como - Ten Days - a short report
 

Recently got back from ten days on Lake Como. We have been there before so we focused on seeing some towns that we have not yet seen. We are not foodies nor high $ travelers.

We spent half a week staying in Bellano. This is a town of about 3,000 people a little north of Varenna. At one time the town had a major weaving industry but that has shut down. We stayed at the 1 star Albergo Orrido. Bellano has a nice lake-front, a beach popular with local teenagers, and a nice pedestrain only centro-storico. Is on the train line with a station. About ten of the regularly scheduled boats call on Bellano every day.

We rented an apartment in Aquaseria on the west side of the lake, a few minutes north of Menaggio. We stayed at the Casa Livia with a direct lake-front location. Aquaseria has a restaurant, three bars and three small food shops all in a compact area up along the highway. There also is one lake-front restaurant/bar named Creme Caramel, although it would be hard to find without specific directions.
This locale only makes sense with a car(no boat service).

The towns: Gravedona and Domaso are nice destinations, good to walk around and look at. Gravedona is not directly on the highway so it might be preferred if time is short.
We looked at Dorio from the car and were unimpressed. The old, central part of Argegno was torn up for utility/pipe work.

We were in Como on Saturday. There is a street market that runs along the old medieval walls. Quite a large market, 100s of stalls. Later, we went shopping for silk ties and ended buying four ties at A Pricci, on Via Vittorio Emmanuel. Also bought silk ties at Azalea in Bellagio.

We revisited of some the towns that we are familiar with: Menaggio, Bellagio, Varenna, Lenno and Tremezzo.

So, what did you think about Albergo Orrido? Will you share with us the rate you paid?

The rate was 70 euro per day with breakfast. There were three of us so a rate for two might be less.

It was fine for a one star, bath across the hall, no elevator, etc. I don't believe that they had air but that was not an issue for late May.

There do not seem to any mid-range hotels in Bellano. When I called the Cavallo Bianco (early May) the reponse that I got was 'Hotel is closed'. I think Cavallo Bianco would have some lake front/view rooms which the Albergo Orrido does not.

Thanks, Big_Red. It's always nice to hear about other destinations on the lake.

Do you know if Bellano is on the regularly scheduled boat calls in November from Bellagio? We like Como and spent 5 nights there recently.

The boats are supposed to change to their 'winter' schedule on 6 Oct.

I am confident and would be willing to bet that there is boat service to Bellano, but I only have the summer schedule.