Como
The city center is situated on the lake promenade, around the piazza del Duomo, one of the largest cathedrals of Italy ’ high. The historical core of the town still has the original Roman structure aspect of ’ ’ l, with well preserved medieval walls and large towers. Noteworthy are the Volta temple that houses some memorabilia of the scientist Alessandro Volta, inventor of the electric battery and a native of Como, and the neoclassical Villa Olmo, ’ d art exhibitions of high level. Thanks to the funicular that connects the city to the mountain of Brunate, you most admire in a clear day l ’ entire Western Alps, the Po plain and the Apennines, This last characteristic ’ that announced the place like the “Balcony of the Alps”.
Bellagio
Renowned holiday resort, is famous for its picturesque location right on the southern branch of Lake Como in his arms, with the Alps visible across the Lake to the North. Along the shores of the Bellagio promontory lie many old mansions, as in the case of Villa Melzi and Villa Serbelloni. This ’ last in 1959 became owned by the Rockefeller Foundation of New York: only the gardens are open to the public. Also famous shopping staircase on which stands the home of Franz Liszt. He spent a day President Kennedy.
THE VILLAS
Villa d Este ’ (Cernobbio), originally a Renaissance patrician residence situated on the shores of Lake Como in the municipality of. From 1873, the complex has been designed for luxury hotel. In June 2009, Forbes magazine l ’ has named the best hotel in the world. Since 1928 every year in may in the gardens of the villa takes place the famous period ’ d vehicle competition: the concourse d elegance ’ ’ Villa d Este.
Villa Erba (Cernobbio) It is one of the most important villas on Lake Como. Built between 1894 and the 1898, was bought later by a public Consortium that has developed a Conference exhibition complex. In recent years, in spring, at the villa and those of ’ ’ adjoining Villa d Este ’ Concours elegance is organized Villa d Este ’.
Villa del Balbianello (Lenno) The Manor House was built in 1787 on an old Franciscan monastery. Later the property was bought by Giuseppe Arconati Visconti which housed in her living room great intellectuals like Giovanni Berchet, Giuseppe Giusti and Alessandro Manzoni. Since the 1990s, the beauty of villa del Balbianello made a film location request. In its rooms and grounds were filmed various international films, including A month by the Lake by John Irvin (1995), Star Wars: Episode II – L ’ attack of the clones by George Lucas (2002) and Casino Royale by Martin Campbell (2006).
Villa Carlotta (Tremezzo) It is popular for collections d ’ art preserved within it, both for the vast Botanical Garden. The villa was built at the end of 1600. The works of ’ art on display are located predominantly on the floor with an elegant gallery: works by Canova and his school, Thorvaldsen (Palamedes, Cupid and psyche etc). The garden is of great historical and architectural; in the park there are over 150 varieties of azaleas, but there are also old camellias, Cedar and Redwood trees, plane trees and exotic species.