Page 147 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

LAKE C OMO  145

period of splendour in the
Middle Ages. The people of
Como conquered the fortress
in 1169 and destroyed the
seven churches on the island.
The ruins, along with those of
a mosaic-decorated baptistery,
were found after World War II
and are now being studied.
Sala Comacina, where boats
depart for the island, has an
18th-century church with a
fresco by Carlo Carloni, and
the villa of Cesare Beccaria,
where Manzoni was a guest.

4 Lenno
Villa Carlotta, built in the 18th century by Marchese Giorgio Clerici
Como. * 1,800. n IAT, Piazza Cavour
17, Como (031-26 97 12).
P Villa del Balbianello taken from the Palazzo Reale in
This town is famous for the Via Comoedia 5, Lenno. Tel 0344-561 Milan. The villa is famous for its
Villa del Balbianello, built 10 (FAI). Garden: Open mid-Mar–mid- garden, with over 150 species
by Cardinal Durini in the 17th Nov: 10am–6pm Tue, Thu–Sun. of rhododendrons and azaleas.
century onto a 16th-century Villa: Open by appt only.
building attributed to Pelle grini. P Villa Carlotta
The magnificent garden has Via Regina 2b. Tel 0344-404 05.
a loggia with a view of Isola 5 Tremezzo Open timings vary, call ahead
Comacina on one side and the Como. * 1,300. n IAT, Via Regina 3 or check website for details. &
Tremezzina bay on the other. (0344-404 93) (open Apr–Sep); Piazza ∑ villacarlotta.it
Access to the villa is by boat Cavour 17, Como (031-26 97 12).
from Sala Comacina.
Also worth a visit are the This lakeside town is a major 6 Menaggio
octagonal baptistery and tourist resort and home to the Como. * 3,200. n IAT, Piazza
church of Santo Stefano, built 18th-century Villa Carlotta. Garibaldi 8 (0344-329 24).
in the 11th century over a The residence, surrounded ∑ menaggio.com
Roman building and decorated by a terraced garden with
with frescoes by Luini. Above landscaped staircases, was The name Menaggio supposedly
the town is the Cister cian converted in the 1800s into derives from two Indo-European
abbey of Acquafredda, rebuilt a Neo-Classical villa. It houses words: men (mountain) and uigg
in the 17th century, with paintings by Hayez, furniture (water), referring to the mouth
frescoes by Fiammenghino. by Maggiolini and sculpture of the Sanagra river on which
At nearby Giulino di Mezzegra, pieces by Canova, including a the town lies. Menaggio is
the Fascist dictator Benito copy of Cupid and Psyche and the leading commercial centre
Mussolini and his mistress Terpsichore. Among the rooms in the upper Lario region and
Claretta Petacci were executed decorated with stucco work is a popular tourist resort. It is
on 28 April 1945. one with Appiani’s frescoes dominated by the ruins of
a castle and has preserved
some of its medieval layout.
Of note are the parish church
of Santo Stefano, the Baroque
architecture of which conceals
its Romanesque origin and
17th-century San Carlo, with
a fine painting by Giuseppe
Vermiglio (1625). The lakeside
promenade, with arcaded
houses and villas, is a must-see.
Past Menaggio, at Loveno, is
the Neo-Classical Milyus-Vigoni
villa with family portraits by
Francesco Hayez. Around it
is a lovely park, designed by
Menaggio, a lakeside town especially popular with British visitors Balzaretto in 1840.

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