Looks like we are in for rainy and/or overcast days for most of our week on the the lake Sept.16-22. Will welcome ideas for what to do without those grandiose views available much of the time! Two villas will be about our limit, and yes we will still enjoy meandering about many small villages around the lake. The art in churches is not our thing. Have not read about any museums of particular interest, have you? Anyone creative here?? Will be going to the Veneto from there where we HOPE the weather will be better for the next week.

I found the forecasts for the lake to be overly pessimistic. The weather may not have a big impact on your plans. Obviously, take an umbrella and dress for scattered showers.

Will you have a car? If so, there are many options. Without a car, you could take a day-trip to Lugano where the weather could be entirely different. The bus from Menaggio takes about an hour.

Two villas: Carlotta and Balbienello.

http://www.villacarlotta.it/sito/index2.php

http://www.fondoambiente.it/en/beni/...propreties.asp

We were there in late June. As Jean said, the weather forecasts are pessimistic. Our weather was much, much better than what had been forecast.

One thing I did notice, when I found a forecast that cut the day into pieces (breakfast time, midmorning, noon, afternoon, etc.) the forecast looked much better.

In addition to Como, Lecco and Lugano, you might think about Bergamo, Italy and Bellinzona, Switzerland.

There is a silk museum in Como, as well as the tempiano de Volta. There is boat museum (the history of lake boats) in Pianello del Lario. Villa Olmo in Como and a villa in Gravedona combine art museums and lake front villas.

The forecasts change quite a lot as you get nearer to the date...you're over a week away, so things could change, and even if it is a bit wet it still will be stunning. This website has a few ideas for indoor things

http://www.lakecomoapartment.com/places2visit.shtml

and if you do want to go to Milan and see da Vinci's Last Supper book online before you go here.

travelling about by boat is a lovely way to see the lake.

www.milan-museum.com

But as I said , I suspect that the weather will be better than you expect...this site is pretty good as you get nearer the date

http://www.italy-weather-and-maps.com/weather/CO/

Have fun!

Thanks, Fodor friends! This is a good help. I am checking out those web sites now. Also found it true about the weather changing, it is already improving somewhat. I found a good website where I can get a 15 day forecast at http://www.accuweather.com but will also try out the others. I know we will enjoy it immensely, rain or no!

years ago i started writing a romance novel set in that area..
how i would love to go around getting ideas and names of places.

maybe you could start a book or travelogue.

Villa Balbianello is not a good choice on a rainy day if you are walking from Lenno. The walking path to the Villa has steep sections and most of the path is a mix of dirt and rocks. It's a 25 min walk from the Lenno dock.

I don't remember it as being that bad Greg, and I was only there May....

If the weather is wet it often doesn't last all day and certainly not all week. Check out this webcam, and you can keep an eye on it!

http://www.buhl.de/nesso/live-cam.asp