Third time visitor to Lake Como seeks new things to do and see.
Feb 21st, 2010, 08:18 AM
#21
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Beth, you photos are so beautiful. They look like they were taken by a professional photographer.
I have always wanted to go to Lake Como, but I am afraid that I will be bored. Keith would love to go. I am a city person, however, and I think that there will not be enough to do.
I am not one to relax.
Thin
I have always wanted to go to Lake Como, but I am afraid that I will be bored. Keith would love to go. I am a city person, however, and I think that there will not be enough to do.
I am not one to relax.
Thin
Feb 21st, 2010, 08:38 AM
#22
flygirl, we've been to the Madonna del Ghisallo chapel several times, including once during the Giro di Lombardia. It's the pilgrimage of all pilgrimages for serious cyclists. It's difficult to get to without a car, but we've visited by taxi a couple of times. You can see the inside of the tiny chapel in 10-15 minutes, but the adjacent cycling museum will require as much time as you're interested in the history of (mostly Italian) pro cycling. The views from the museum are gorgeous.
The Villa Erba at your link is an old private estate that's been made into a convention facility. I doubt it's open for tourists.
If you're going to drive to Erba or the Rifugio Martina, make sure you have an excellent map of the area. Don't rely on GPS. Once you wander off SP41, it's very easy to get lost.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/...int-of-cycling
The Villa Erba at your link is an old private estate that's been made into a convention facility. I doubt it's open for tourists.
If you're going to drive to Erba or the Rifugio Martina, make sure you have an excellent map of the area. Don't rely on GPS. Once you wander off SP41, it's very easy to get lost.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/...int-of-cycling
Feb 21st, 2010, 08:51 AM
#23
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._Lombardy.html
This is a website for Trip Advisor with 3 pages of reviews for the restaurant "Al Veluu" in the hills above Tremezzo, overlooking the lake.
We have been going to Europe for years in Sept. (my birthday month). We have had many memorable "birthday" dinners in some fantastic places, but the one that stands out the most is "Al Veluu".
Sitting at a table on the outside terrace with that fantastic views was special, and add to that some absolutely delicious food and service. What a place!
It may be hard to get to if your on the East side of the lake, as it is on the West side of the lake near Villa Carlotta, but maybe you could hire a boat to take you across & back. I'm not sure if it open for lunch.
Isola Comaneche (sp?)----there's not much there, a casual restaurant at the dock, but we did enjoy hiking around the island. You feel like you are the only ones there, and sometimes you are.
We did the usual, Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio, Cernobbio, Villa Carlotta, etc. and enjoyed our 10 days on the lake.
We also drove to Lugano one day. The drive is gorgeous if a bit slow because of the winding road.
This is a website for Trip Advisor with 3 pages of reviews for the restaurant "Al Veluu" in the hills above Tremezzo, overlooking the lake.
We have been going to Europe for years in Sept. (my birthday month). We have had many memorable "birthday" dinners in some fantastic places, but the one that stands out the most is "Al Veluu".
Sitting at a table on the outside terrace with that fantastic views was special, and add to that some absolutely delicious food and service. What a place!
It may be hard to get to if your on the East side of the lake, as it is on the West side of the lake near Villa Carlotta, but maybe you could hire a boat to take you across & back. I'm not sure if it open for lunch.
Isola Comaneche (sp?)----there's not much there, a casual restaurant at the dock, but we did enjoy hiking around the island. You feel like you are the only ones there, and sometimes you are.
We did the usual, Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio, Cernobbio, Villa Carlotta, etc. and enjoyed our 10 days on the lake.
We also drove to Lugano one day. The drive is gorgeous if a bit slow because of the winding road.
Feb 21st, 2010, 09:33 AM
#24
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Such great information, thank you! Something tells me this burgeoning list will last for several trips, not just this one. haha
Al Veluu, that sounds fabulous. We'll be looking for new places to eat and that will fit in to the day we visit Villa Balbianello. We have explored a little of the west side of the Lake, in fact, despite staying in Varenna (high above it all at the Eremo Gaudio) most of our sightseeing has entailed getting on a boat and going somewhere. We haven't explored the western side south of Lenno, however - other than from a boat.
Thin, you are very kind, thank you. I think you'd love it there actually. I could absolutely see you at Villa d'Este.
Al Veluu, that sounds fabulous. We'll be looking for new places to eat and that will fit in to the day we visit Villa Balbianello. We have explored a little of the west side of the Lake, in fact, despite staying in Varenna (high above it all at the Eremo Gaudio) most of our sightseeing has entailed getting on a boat and going somewhere. We haven't explored the western side south of Lenno, however - other than from a boat.
Thin, you are very kind, thank you. I think you'd love it there actually. I could absolutely see you at Villa d'Este.
Feb 21st, 2010, 09:35 AM
#25
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ps. Jean - having seen the Tour de France last summer, I think finally visiting the cycing chapel is in order. In fact, at least one if not two of the previous May trips to Italy we could have exerted a little effort to see the Giro d'Italia but we did not.
Feb 21st, 2010, 10:31 AM
#26
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The cycling chapel is cool and the picture on this page gives you an idea of the view
http://www.lakecomoapartment.com/places2visit.shtml
http://www.lakecomoapartment.com/places2visit.shtml
Feb 21st, 2010, 03:31 PM
#30
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tedgale, you will have to let us know how your trip goes! I didn't thank you for your Savannah restaurant recos - after all that we were so full from breakfast we didn't eat lunch and had dinner at 630 on Hilton Head Island. I have your note saved for the next visit though...
It seems there is more info online than I'm finding in guidebooks, so far. Thanks for all the links! I'll be sure to have some cool photos on this trip. How could you not, from that vantage point?
It seems there is more info online than I'm finding in guidebooks, so far. Thanks for all the links! I'll be sure to have some cool photos on this trip. How could you not, from that vantage point?
Feb 21st, 2010, 08:01 PM
#31
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Beth, my sister stayed at Villa d'Este and she never raves about it the way she raves about other hotels. I get the feeling that she really didn't like it that much.
When I was in Rodos in July, 2007, I met a woman and her son at my hotel who stay at Villa d'Este every year. They visit the boy's grandmother who lives close to the hotel. The woman didn't rave about it either.
I think Cousin Muffy has stayed at Villa d'Este, too. I should email her and ask.
Oh, well, I doubt Keith would want to pay so much for a hotel room anyway. He was angry when we got our bill for the St. Regis Grand in Rome. (And I wanted to stay at the Hassler, but he said NO!)
Have fun on your holiday.
Thin
When I was in Rodos in July, 2007, I met a woman and her son at my hotel who stay at Villa d'Este every year. They visit the boy's grandmother who lives close to the hotel. The woman didn't rave about it either.
I think Cousin Muffy has stayed at Villa d'Este, too. I should email her and ask.
Oh, well, I doubt Keith would want to pay so much for a hotel room anyway. He was angry when we got our bill for the St. Regis Grand in Rome. (And I wanted to stay at the Hassler, but he said NO!)
Have fun on your holiday.
Thin
Feb 22nd, 2010, 01:33 AM
#32
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This thread here for a year or so ago may still have some helpful information for those interested in Lake Como.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-dining.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-dining.cfm
Feb 22nd, 2010, 01:45 AM
#33
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If you are looking for a cheap (€55 for a double), very clean hotel with stunning views and a great restaurant then the Tres Rosa in the village of Nesso is lovely
http://www.trerosehotel.com/hoteltre...lese/home.html
http://www.trerosehotel.com/hoteltre...lese/home.html
Feb 22nd, 2010, 02:38 AM
#34
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Jean,
I took the bus in about 2004 from Locarno (near the train station) to Menaggio, no changes. It may be the service is discontinued. I would think one of the tourist offices on the lake could tell you next time you are there, or one of the hotels in Menaggio by e-mail.
I took the bus in about 2004 from Locarno (near the train station) to Menaggio, no changes. It may be the service is discontinued. I would think one of the tourist offices on the lake could tell you next time you are there, or one of the hotels in Menaggio by e-mail.
Feb 24th, 2010, 06:15 AM
#37
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Isola Comaneche (sp?)----there's not much there, a casual restaurant at the dock, but we did enjoy hiking around the island. You feel like you are the only ones there, and sometimes you are.
If you mean Isola Comacina, it has aa very interesting history and I understand one of the best restaurants in the area...still not been yet though!
http://www.comacina.it/en/island.php
If you mean Isola Comacina, it has aa very interesting history and I understand one of the best restaurants in the area...still not been yet though!
http://www.comacina.it/en/island.php
Feb 25th, 2010, 12:45 PM
#38
http://www.comoeilsuolago.it/eng/comacinaE.htm
That's the island---sorry for the bad spelling in my previous post.
The restaurant wasn't open when we were there in the day time. On the above website there is a short video that shows what your hike around the island would be like. It was very quiet and we did get some good photos of the mainland and boats going by.
That's the island---sorry for the bad spelling in my previous post.
The restaurant wasn't open when we were there in the day time. On the above website there is a short video that shows what your hike around the island would be like. It was very quiet and we did get some good photos of the mainland and boats going by.
Feb 28th, 2010, 12:30 PM
#40
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You can bus from Lugano to Menaggio. So if can fly into Lugano conveniently then great. It just seems to me that in the past, the times for Lugano have never worked out to be good (and I have looked).
