Page 61 - DK Eyewitness: Back Roads Northern and Central Italy (Travel Guide)

DRIVE 4: Como’s Villas and Villages 59

PLAN YOUR DRIVE
0 kilometres 3
Start/finish: Como to Brunate.
0 miles 3
Number of days: 2–3 days, allowing
Bellano
Bellano half a day in Varenna.
Plésio
Nágg Nággioio Plésio
Distance: Approx 100 km (62 miles).
Nobiallo
Nobiallo
Cardano Road conditions: Roads are generally
Cardano
good, but with some tight bends on
MENAGGIO
MENAGGIO the narrow lakeside roads between
Croc Crocee
VARENNA
VARENNA Como and Menaggio and some steep,
winding lanes after Bellagio. In summer,
M. di M. di TremezzoTremezzo C o m o C o m o the lake roads can get very busy.
1700m Grian Griantete When to go: Visit Easter to July and
1700m
Cadenabbia during September to beat the worst
Cadenabbia
BELLAGIO of the summer crowds. Many of the
BELLAGIO
Tremezzo Pescallo gardens are in full bloom in May–June.
Tremezzo
Pescallo
Loppia
Ortanella
SACRO MONTEO MONTE
SACR Azzano Loppia Ortanella Most lake hotels and restaurants close
Azzano
DI OSSUC Lenno S. Gio S. Giovannivanni
DI OSSUCCIOCIO
Lenno
Ossúccio
Ossúccio d i d i from the end of October until Easter.
Sala Comacina Visg Visgnolanola Opening times: Shops tend to open
Sala Comacina
Lierna
VILLA Lierna
VILLA
Limontata
Pigra Pigra Limon 9am–1pm and 3–7pm Mon–Sat. Villa
BALBIANELLOO
Colonno BALBIANELL L L opening hours differ; some are closed
Colonno

L a g o Guello a a Grumo on Monday and the gardens usually
L a g o
Grumo
Guello
close early in winter.
g
g
Argegno
Argegno Lézz Lézzenoeno Perlo Perlo o o

Main market days: Como: Tue
d Ólcio
Civenna d Ólcio
Civenna
LOMBARDIA
LOMBARDIA SANTUARIO DELLA i i and Thu morning and all day Sat;
SANTUARIO DELLA

Menaggio: 2nd and 4th Fri morning
MADONNA DEL L L
MADONNA DEL
Occagno GHISALLO c c Mandello of month; Varenna: Wed.
e
Occagno
e
GHISALLO
Mandello
Magréglio c c del Lár
del Lárioio
Magréglio
Nesso
Nesso Véleso M. S. M. S. Primo Primo o o Shopping: Como is famous for its high-
Véleso
1683m
Brienno
Brienno 1683m M. P M. Poncionci Barni Barni
1450m
1450m quality silk, supplying Milan and the
Onno world’s fashion houses. There are some
Onno
P i a n d . T i v a n o
VALASSINA AND
Zélbio
Zélbio VALASSINA AND outlets and factory shops around the
PIAN DEL TIVIANO
Careno
M. San Bernadonado
M. San Ber Careno P i a n d . T i v a n o PIAN DEL TIVIANO town. Workshops in Bellagio produce
1349 1349 Va l a s s i n a Va l a s s i n a
Torríggia
Torríggia Lambro Lambro ceramics, jewellery and leather goods.
Láglio
Láglio Stock up too on Valtellina red wines
Colma
Colma from the northern end of the lake.
M. di Pr
M. di Preaoloeaolo
Lasnigo
Carate Pognana
Sormano
1412m
Carate Pognana 1412m Sormano Lasnigo
Lário Lário
M. Bisbino Úrio Úrio Major festivals: Across the lake: Sagra
M. Bisbino
1329m di San Giovanni (fireworks and boat
1329m
Cáglio
Cáglio
Palanzo
Palanzo Rezzago races), nearest Sat to 24 Jun; Bellagio:
Rezzago
Moltrásio
Moltrásio
Riva Riva M. P M. Palanzonealanzone Festa Patronale San Giacomo (town’s
1436m
1436m
Torno
Torno patron saint), 25 Jul. Varenna: Festa
VECCHIA REGINA: del Lago (recalls the attack by Como),
VECCHIA REGINA:
Rovenna
Rovenna
THE SP71
Maslianic THE SP71 1st weekend of Jul.
Maslianicoo
Cer Cernóbbionóbbio
DAY TRIP OPTIONS
M. Boletto
M. Boletto
1237m
Blévio 1237m
Blévio
Tavernola Tire energetic youngsters with a tour
Tavernola
of Como, a lakeside drive past stately
villas, then climb up the Sacro
BRUNATE Monte di Ossuccio before finishing
BRUNATE
COMO at Menaggio lido. For a more restful
COMO
time, take a drive on the quiet back-
Tavernério
Tavernério roads away from the lake’s bustle. Or
make use of the ferries by crossing
Lipomo
Lipomo to Villa Balbianello, then back to
explore Varenna with its villas and
castle. For full details, see p63.
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