Located in the North of Italy at the southern end of the famous gorgeous Lake Como, Como Province is where tourism, history, art, and nature combine harmoniously. Travel couples, adventurous explorers, nature photographers, and regular tourists visiting the Lombardy capital usually do not leave Lake Como off of their bucket list. Here’s how to plan your one day itinerary in Como.
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Take a funicular and hike to the lighthouse
One of the very first things I did when arriving here, was to take a funicular up to Brunate as I knew it would get colder in the late afternoon up there. Hiking to the Volta Lighthouse is definitely a must-do! This is where to get the spectacular panoramic views of Como from high above. The hiking trail is very comfortable to walk through. It takes about half an hour to walk from the funicular station to the lighthouse. During the weekend, there are many Italian and foreign families taking a short road-trip to Brunate to relax in their sumptuous villas.
Visit Como Cathedral and plenty of historic monuments
Located only a short walk away from the waterfront is where you’ll discover, Como’s 14th century Gothic-Renaissance Como Cathedral - the Duomo is a nice stop for your day trip to the lake. It is one of the most important buildings in the region, for being the last Gothic cathedral built in Italy, dedicated to Santa Maria Maggiore or Blessed Virgin Mary - the mother of Jesus Christ. Some other historical monuments and buildings to put on your checklist are the Volta Temple (Tempio Voltiano), Castello Baradello (the Baradello Castle), the War Memorial, and the City Walls.
Walk along the waterfront and enjoy sunset
Como has a long, splendid waterfront to walk through. There is everything you will find in a picture perfect Como: lots of boats, stunning villas, small colourful houses lying on the cliff above the water, and gorgeous mountains behind them. Lying on the northern side of the lake, Villa Olmo is a majestic neoclassical villa built by the Swiss architect Simone Catoni. There are many fishermen, couples, and visitors chilling around the banks as the sun sets.
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Take a boat trip
You will be intrigued by the alluring authentic beauty of Lake Como’s banks surrounded by luxuriant vegetation, farmed villas, and unspoiled landscapes, take a boat trip to see the magnificent picturesque villages around Lake Como, such as Bellagio, Varenna, and Tremezzo. There are short cruises as well if you do not want to spend time on the boat for half of the day. Tickets for a few villages nearby can be purchased at the kiosk on the lake front. For travel couples, there are evening cruises with dinner and live music during the summer.
When and how to visit Como?
The climate in Como starts to get warmer in mid March after the long winter months. Summer is definitely the best time to visit Como, as you can spend a day swimming in the clear waters and relax in a small town nearby. To get here, there are trains leaving approximately every one hour from a couple of main railway stations in Milan, including the Central Station, the North Cadorna Station, and so on. A single ticket costs about 5 EUR (roughly 5.5 USD). Spend a night dining out and staying in a grand villa here, in this truly exquisite destination in Northern Italy for a luxurious romantic trip.
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