Destination Italy: Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo – Day 2

Take the boat to Varenna – 4.6 euros per person – traghetto, 15 minutes duration. Buy tickets online here.

Arrive at Varenna Ferry station in the morning. Just opposite the ferry stop, see Hotel Olivedo and restaurant – nice for a picture. It is an elegant small hotel in Art Nouveau style, charming  and romantic. Head towards south along the lakeshore on Via Imbarcadero. Then walk onto Largo Enzo Venini. This is an arched walkway called The Lovers’ Promenade or Passeggiata degli innamorati. It offers plenty of photo opportunities of the lake and surroundings.

Walking the Lovers’ Promenade of Varenna

You will eventually get to Porto Riva Grande with its Molo Riva Grande. Near Passerella ice cream shop you can see the stairs that lead up to the central square of Varenna. Prices are 2 euros for a scoop of ice cream, 2.50 euros for 2 scoops. There are pillows on the stairs, so you can enjoy some ice cream while sitting there, and moreover, enjoys a beautiful view of the lake.

Afterwards, continue ahead south, along the lakeshore on Riva dei Marmisti. There will be another stairway to the left, Contrada Soscesa. Up the street, on the right, there is VarennaMonamour restaurant. They have prices between 15 – 25 euros a course. Dessert is 7 euros. Here also you can sit outside on the steps. Then go back on the lakeshore and you will find on the left Tutti Frutti Varenna bar espresso. It also offers nice views and there are also some stairs in the back. Prices are 7 euros a cocktail + tapas.

Lakeside Dining and Shopping in Varenna

Continue ahead along the lakeshore of Varenna on Riva Garibaldi; on the left is another narrow alley. This is the most famous one – called Contrada dei Sarti. There you can come across Pelletteria Denti, a typical leather shop selling leather wallets, belts and also purses are all made in Italy. And next to it it’s Nilus Bar offering a nice lakeshore view and prices like 9 euros a pizza. And next to it is Bar Il Molo. Here you should stop for lunch before departing to Bellagio, enjoying the beautiful lakeshore view. Moreover, their chairs look very nice. Prices: pizza around 10 euros, pasta 10 – 12 euros, 4.5 euros dessert, 2 euros refreshments, 4 euros a beer.

Discovering Piazza San Giorgio and Historic Varenna, Italy Lake Como

Then go back a little and after Nilus Bar turn right and take the stairs of Contrada dei Sarti and eventually arrive in Piazza San Giorgio, the town center of Varenna. There you will see St. George’s Church. Be careful when walking: there are cobblestones, and some alleys are also quite steep and slippery.

Across the square there is Hotel Royal Victoria, with its 2 restaurants: Royal Gourmet and Victoria Grill. The hotel is beautiful and moreover it has a nice beach in front. Royal Gourmet it’s an expensive restaurant; The Fork offers a 75 euros tasting menu, while Victoria Grill is the informal alternative to the Gourmet restaurant; prices are ok, but only the Royal Gourmet offers views of the lake and beach. Maybe there is a chance to have a look and take some pictures from the Royal Gourmet terrace and also get access to the beach. Across the street there is Varenna Turismo – tourist information center.

The rooms and internal decorations of Villa Monastero are in Baroque and German Rococo style. Enter the villa and see the beautiful Scalone (staircase) which connects the ground floor to the first floor. The furniture it’s also in neo-Renaissance, neo-rococo, Liberty, manneristic, and Baroque styles. Then visit the halls of Villa Monastero: the Counsel Room, mentioned also as Sala Verde (the Green Room), the Kennedy Room – the private room of the wife of the penultimate owner of the villa, the Mornico Sitting Room – ancient room used as a library by the Mornico family in 1700, the Red Room, the Black Room – located on the ground floor and used as an entertainment room, and also the Conference Room.

The Gardens are Villa Monastero’s most famous attraction. There are many exotic species: American and African Palm Trees, agaves, yuccas, dracaenas, citrus trees, oleanders. Also, beautiful architectural elements decorate the garden. These include banisters, statues, small temples, vases, wells, and fountains in Baroque, classic, and Moorish styles. The small streets, stairways and twisted columns look perfect with Lake Como in the background. Among the garden ornaments, the most valuable piece is the statuesque group of the Clemenza di Tito (Tito’s mercy). This is the work of the neoclassical artist, Giovani Battista Comolli.

Ferry to Bellagio – A Jewel of Lake Como, Italy

Afterwards, get back to Piazza St. George, see St. George’s Church dating back to the 13th century.

Then, get back the same way to the Varenna ferry stop.

Take the ferry and cross Lake Como to Bellagio – around 4.6 euros per person – traghetto, 15 min trip. Buy tickets online here.

Get off at the ferry stop in Bellagio. In Bellagio most of the attractions are located within walking distance, which makes the town perfect also for a day trip. In case you are tired or you do not want to walk all the way around you can use the Bellagio tourist train that reaches all hamlets and whose ticket is valid all day (more info on their Facebook page).

Exploring Bellagio Borgo Hamlet – Streets, Cafés and Views of Italy Lake Como

Go left north on Via Lungo Lario Manzoni. See Restaurant La Terrazza on the left and Bellagio Bar Pizzeria Splendide on the right. Bellagio Bar Pizzeria Splendide offers a la carte lunches and dinners, also brunches. The restaurant has a beautiful and scenic dining room, an outdoor garden and a large terrace from which to enjoy breathtaking views of the lake.

A little ahead there are Gelateria Excelsior and Bar Sanremo – snack bar, with ice cream, cocktails, a wide selection of wines; prices: 2.50 euros 1 coffee. Then continue forward and at the intersection see Hotel Metropole Bellagio on the left – it has a fantastic terrace facing the lake, and see famous Salita Serbelloni, or Serbelloni steps on the right. Also on the right there is Grandi Carlo di Alberto Gaviglio – handicraft and souvenir shop selling gifts, ornaments, cameos, corals, jewelry, etc.

Continue forward on Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini. See beautiful Hotel Restaurant Suisse, listed on The Fork but with no discount, 16 – 24 euros a course, 10 euros a dessert; next to it there is Bar Pasticceria Rossi offering continental breakfast, sandwiches, cocktails, fresh pastry, tea room, and then NANDO – ex Carillon, restaurant-pizzeria with a large outdoor garden on the lakefront, and Hotel du Lac on the right.

Keep ahead and arrive in Via Roma. Just before the street turns right, you will see Hotel Florence. Nearby, there is Restaurant de l’ hotel Florence, which has a beautiful terrace on the lake. Prices there range around 12 – 25 euros per course.

Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni

Turn right and arrive at Ristorante La Goletta – listed on The Fork but with no discount, around 20 euros a course, 10 euros a pizza or dessert, Ristorante Mistral – one Michelin star, on The Fork but with no discount, very expensive with prices between 40 – 90 euros a course, and the famous Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni

The Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is a storied luxury hotel located in the village of Bellagio on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy. It is one of the region’s most prestigious properties, combining historic architecture, lakeside views, and high-end amenities.

Situated on a promontory that juts into Lake Como, Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni enjoys panoramic lake and mountain views. The grounds include Italian-style gardens filled with Mediterranean and subtropical plants, benefiting from the lake’s mild microclimate. The interior style is richly historic: neoclassical and Art Nouveau elements, frescoed ceilings, Murano glass chandeliers, marble staircases, antique Persian carpets and so on.

Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni has 94 rooms and suites, each unique, many with lake or park views. Rooms are furnished with antique or classic furniture, luxury fabrics, and modern comforts (AC, WiFi, flat-screen TV, minibar, separate shower & bath, double sinks) in many cases. Some upper suites of the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni (e.g., “Queen of Sweden Suite”) offer balconies facing the lake and more spacious layouts.

The villa-turned-hotel maintains strong heritage features – Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is ideal for guests who appreciate classical luxury and historic ambiance.

Continue forward with the road all the way to Punta Spartivento, tip of the village. There is also Ristorante La Punta with its panoramic terrace offering wonderful views of the three branches of the lake, serving lake fish specialty; prices: 18 – 28 euros a course.

Return the same way and arrive at the parking lot where it’s the intersection with Via Roma.

Discovering Piazza della Chiesa and St. Giacomo Basilica in Bellagio

Continue forward on Via Roma and get to Piazza della Chiesa, see Basilica of St. Giacomo, a Romanesque church built between the 11th and 12th centuries, and Bellagio Tourism Information Office. The church of Saint Giacomo stands in the Borgo neighborhood of Bellagio. Across the piazza there are some places to eat, such as: Caffè Bar Sport, Bistrot Antichi Sapori serving typical and local Italian food, prices: 10 – 25 euros a dish, 7 – 10 euros a pizza, and La Fontana Bellagio dei F.lli Patroni – on The Fork, no discount, offering traditional cuisine, typical local food in a cozy atmosphere, prices: pizza form 7 euros.

Touring Villa Serbelloni Gardens – A Must-See in Italy Lake Como

In the back of St. Giacomo church there is the entrance to Parco di Villa Serbelloni.

Visit the garden of Villa Serbelloni Rockefeller for 1.5 – 2 h with the guided tour at 3.30 pm. The world famous Villa Serbelloni is a luxury hotel built in the 15th century and currently owned by the Rockefeller Foundation; it’s on the lakeside. If you’re not a guest of the villa, you can’t visit the interior. However, you can book a visit and enjoy a walk into the park and gardens that surround the villa. There are 18 km of avenues and paths that allow the visitor to admire the large quantity of plants, including rare and tropical plants, which grow on the terraces sloping down towards the lake. The garden offers great views of the Como and Lecco branches of the lake. The villa has hosted famous people: Leonardo da Vinci, Emperor Maximillian I, Queen Victoria.

Villa Serbelloni’s park can only be visited on guided tours for a minimum of 6 people and a maximum of 30. Tours last about 1 hour 30 minutes, leaving at 11 am and 3.30 pm from the Promobellagio Office situated into the medieval tower in the St. Giacomo square in the upper part of the town. But during the solar time period, for security reasons the afternoon tour will start at  2.30 pm. Groups need to book in advance contracting Promobellagio. It is open daily except on Mondays. On bad weather tours are canceled. Price: 10 euros per person.

Strolling Via Giuseppe Garibaldi – Local Flavors of Italy Lake Como

Get back to Piazza della Chiesa, then continue south on Via Giuseppe Garibaldi. This street is populated by many shops selling local food, leather goods, clothes, perfumes etc. From this main street, several alleys lead to the lakefront. The alleys face the Como branch of the lake. These alleys are also full of shops, restaurants, and stairs. Food options in the area include several choices. Bar Ristorante Vecchio Borgo offers breakfast, sandwiches, aperitives, and also pizza. Gelateria del Borgo sells homemade ice cream, ice drinks, milkshakes, ice cream cakes, Italian delicatessen, and wine and cheese tastings. Da Caio specializes in Italian sweets, pasta, truffles, wines, liquors, local olive oil, cold sandwiches, and take-away dishes. They also offer picnic baskets. Prices are approximately 8 euros for a bunch of salami, prosciutto, bread, and cheese. Macelleria Salumeria Butti Enrici features selected Italian meats, typical regional smoked meats, cheeses, Italian wine, and grappa.

Continue forward and there will be an intersection with Salita Serbelloni on the right. Then go down a little on this famous stairway street. Food options: San Giacomo on the right – trattoria serving typical and local dishes, wide wine selection in a friendly atmosphere; prices: 3 course fish menu only 28 euro, Ristorante Bilacus on the left – offering typical and local Italian food, has a beautiful terrace overlooking one of the most characteristic steps of Bellagio; prices around 15 euros.

Then get back to Via Giuseppe Garibaldi and continue south and at the first intersection there are Bellagio City Hall and Chiesa di San Giorgio on the right, and on the left are the stairs that lead to Pescallo – Scalotta per Pescallo.

Relaxing in Pescallo Hamlet – Hidden Gem of Italy Lake Como

Continue the itinerary towards Pescallo hamlet – a  great place to relax, an old fishing village located southeast of the promontory. A stepped pathway – Salita Cappuccini and then Scalotta per Pescallo, which starts from the town hall of Bellagio and will take you there in about 10 minutes.

Go down the stairs through stone walls and get to Porto – Pescallo and Hotel Ristorante La Pergola – a unique lakeside terrace, offering a breathtaking view and a simple and genuine kitchen, open every day except Tuesday from 12.30 to 2.30 pm  and from 7 pm to 9.30 pm; prices: 18 – 25 euros.

Get back the same way to Commune di Bellagio. Cross Parco Martiri Della Libertà and get to the lakeshore, Lungolago Europa. Continue left, South West and in 10 minutes arrive at Lido di Bellagio which has a bar and a gazebo.

Visiting Villa Melzi Gardens – Botanical Beauty of Italy Lake Como

Continue forward on the lake shore on Lungo Lario Lario Manzoni and there begin I Giardini di Villa Melzi. But the entrance will be near the church in Loppia. So you will have to continue towards South on Via Melzi d’Eril. Continue forward with the road and get to Cappella di Villa Melzi.

I Giardini di Villa Melzi is a picturesque botanical garden with statues, lakeside paths and a beautiful villa built between 1808 and 1810. The park has many tropical trees, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas. Entry price is € 8 euros (for all day). Tickets can also be bought online here. Open daily from 10 am to 7 pm, last entry at 6.30 pm.

Villa Melzi is 15 minutes walking from the pier. A long avenue of plane trees begins at the boat dock and gardens of azaleas and gigantic rhododendrons surround Villa Melzi, enclosing small spaces such as the hidden cave or the artificial pond in Japanese style. In the Orangery adjacent to the villa there is a small museum, which exhibits Napoleonic memorabilia, evidence of Duke Francesco Melzi d’Eril loyalty to Napoleon. The garden is crossed by many winding paths. Under the trees, along the shore and at the intersections of the paths, are Egyptian sculptures and Roman statues which add to the romantic atmosphere of the garden. Entrance to Villa Melzi Gardens, the Museum and the Chapel are included in the ticket. Villa Melzi itself is a private property, so it is closed for the public. Continue forward and get to Chiosco Moresco.

Exploring Loppia Hamlet and the Southern Shore of Italy Lake Como

Get back to the entrance and visit Loppia hamlet with its dock and historic lucie boats and the Scallota (Loppia stairs). Out of I Giardini di Villa Melzi, after Cappella di Villa Melzi continue forward and see Chiesa Santa Maria di Loppia church on the left, which cannot be visited, but it can be seen along the main road towards Como. Climb the stairs on the left and cross the park via Scalinata per accedere a Villa Giulia. See Hotel & Restaurant Silvio on the left before exiting the park. Restaurant Silvio serves typical and local Italian food, fresh lake fish and has a terrace with a lake view. It is on The Fork, bus offers no discount, prices: 15 – 20 euros a course, 9 euros dessert.

Ending the Day at San Giovanni and Menaggio – Ferry Ride Across Lake Como

And across the road, in a distance see the Mausoleo dedicato a Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli. If you continue forward south on the road, Via Paolo Carcano, you’ll get to Bellagio free public beach and then to San Giovanni hamlet with its Chiesa S. Giovanni and Imbarcadero di Bellagio San Giovanni, 7 min walk. The pebbly free entry beach it’s in the neighborhood of San Giovanni of Bellagio and during the summer months hosts a bar selling ice cream, drinks, and food.

Get back to Gestione Navigazione Laghi and take the ferry to Menaggio, last ferry would be at 7 pm or 7.30 pm; check their schedule. Walk back or get the bus from San Giovanni to the ferry stop: get to the main road, Via Paolo Carcano and at the intersection there is the bus stop Bellagio S. Giovanni al Ponte from where you can take bus C30 to Bellagio – Lido, 4 stops.

Thanks for reading!

Related:

• Our Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo Italy Visit: Day 1 and 2
• Our Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo Italy Visit: Day 3
• Our Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo Italy Visit: Day 4
• Destination Italy: Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo – Day 3
• Our Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo Italy Visit: Day 5

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