Page 13 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

GREA T D A Y S IN MILAN AND THE LAKES  11

Afternoon
Visit the 4th-century church
of Sant’Ambrogio (pp86–9),
then go to the Museo della
Scienza e della Tecnologia
Leonardo da Vinci (p90),
which holds replicas of some
of Leonardo’s inventions. Walk
along the Parco delle Basiliche
to see another 4th-century
church, San Lorenzo alle
Colonne (pp82–3) preceded
by a row of Roman columns.
Further down the street lies
the Museo Diocesano (p92), a
repository for art from church
treasuries across Lombardy.
A short distance away is Lake Maggiore, surrounded by snow-capped mountains
Sant’Eustorgio (p92), a church
filled with Renaissance frescoes. exhibits, including marionette A Day on Elegant
Finally, unwind in the nearby stages and liveried mannequins. Lake Como
Navigli area, home to numerous Then head to the village on
bars and restaurants. Isola dei Pescatori for a leisurely Two adults allow at least €48
lunch by the lake. • Lavishly decorated Duomo
A Family Day on • Ornate gardens
Lake Maggiore Afternoon
Hop off the ferry heading to • Lakeside strolls
Family of 4 allow at Stresa at the Mottarone stop • Palatial villas
least €116 and take a cable car (open
• Island-hop by ferry daily) to the top of Monte
• Glorious gardens Mottarone to admire spec- Morning
tacular views. It is a 3-hour Begin the day at Como (p144),
• Lunch by the lakeside
trek back down, so consider on the southwest arm of
• Breathtaking panoramas buying a return ticket. Stresa’s the lake. Wander along the
cafés are a 20-minute walk lakeside promenade, browse
along a lakeside path lined the silk outlets, and visit the
Morning with crumbling villas. impressive Duomo and the
The best way to enjoy Lake Later, stop outside the town museum of notable scientist
Maggiore is by flitting between of Arona (p138) to climb the Alessandro Volta. Then, travel
its three tiny Borromean Islands 35-m- (115-ft-) high statue up to the lovely resort town
(p139). Start island-hopping of San Carlo Borromeo. Kids of Bellagio (p147). The tip of
at the lakeside town of Stresa (only those over 8 years old Bellagio’s promontory is
(p139). Spend the morning at allowed) love to clamber up occupied by the grounds of
Isola Bella and Isola Madre, the spiral staircase inside the Villa Serbelloni, which you can
where peacocks wander the statue to the head, and peer visit only by guided tour (sign
exotic gardens and the palace out of the eyes or nostrils at up at the tourist office).
rooms are filled with quirky a lake panorama.
Afternoon
Take a ferry to Varenna (p146),
on the eastern shore, and stop
for lunch. Next, tour the formal
gardens at Villa Cipressi and
Villa Monastero, or hike up to
the ruins of medieval Castello
di Vezio for stunning lake views.
Afterwards, cross by ferry to
the western shore and the
town of Tremezzo (p145),
home to the 18th-century
Villa Carlotta, with its terraced
gardens and works by Canova
and Hayez. Return to Bellagio
for a leisurely evening stroll
Villa Monastero, one of many elegant lakeside villas on Lake Como through its pretty alleyways.

010-011_EW_Milan.indd 11 20/10/16 3:18 pm