Since the Roman times, Lake Como has been a famous retreat for the wealthy and the aristocrats. In fact a lot of well-known celebrities have homes on Lake Como’s shores such as Ronaldhino, Sylvester Stallone, Matthew Bellamy, Madonna and George Clooney. Among the many lakes surrounding Italy, Lake Como is recognized as the most beautiful.

Aside from being a celebrity’s haven, Lake Como is also highly recognized for its magnificent and awe-inspiring architecture. Attractive villas welcomes guests, most of which boast of admirable and fabulous gardens. Historic landmarks showcasing magnificent architectural designs reminiscent of the Roman era also abound in Lake Como.

Villa dell’Olmo

A fascinating architecture in the area that is sure to catch the eyes of tourists is the Villa dell’Olmo. Simon Cantoni designed the neoclassical architecture of the central part of the villa in the late 1700s. Innocenzo Odelaschi was the first owner of the villa and during the time of his ownership various architectural renovations took place in the villa, which include the addition of wings, and enlarging the villa’s original building. At present day, Villa dell’Olmo is now owned by Comune di Como which is often used as a location for various cultural events. The villa’s main façade is made of the original villa featuring pilasters and columns as well as a terrace showcasing two lateral wings and statues. The villa’s interior is adorned by a  profusion of frescoes, ornaments, stuccoes, and gilding.

Volta Temple

The Volta temple showcases another great architecture in Lake Como. Erected on the shores of Lake Como in 1927, the temple was built as a tribute to the late Alessandro Volta. It exudes a quadrilateral neo-classical style designed by Federico Frigerio. Adult guests who wish to enter the temple will have to pay a minimal fee. Meanwhile, children under 15 years accompanied by adults can enter for free.

Duomo Cathedral

Duomo Cathedral which can be viewed from the piazza’s eastern side is the last Gothic cathedral that was erected in the city of Lombardy. It took three and half centuries to complete the cathedral, where various styles where introduced but the most prominent was the late-Gothic Renaissance. The cathedral’s initial exterior architectural style was designed by Lorenzo degli Sazzli in 1396 but was later modified by several other artists, including Pietro di Breggio. The cathedral’s interiors, meanwhile, has been divided by 10 cruciform pillars (with various cross vaults and amplitude) into three naves. Its interior is adorned by a number of artworks and beautiful statues. The cathedral’s dome design, on the other hand was the work of an architect named Filippo Javva while its nineteenth century stained glass windows were designed by Pompeo Bertini and Giuseppe.

Poets, artists and musicians love the picturesque sights because they get inspiration to write the loveliest lines. Poets Lord Byron and Percy Shelley and composer Giuseppe Verdi were a few of these artists.

The film “A Month by the Lake” which starred Uma Thurman and Vanessa Redgrave was shot on different places around the magnificent lake. The villa near Lake Como served as the secret hideaway in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones where Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker got married. In the movie Casino Royale, the same villa was the place where Daniel Craig’s character James Bond recovered. Villa La Gaeta was also featured in the final scene of Casino Royale when the protagonist shoots Mr. White.

Another movie, the “Ocean’s Twelve” included shots in Villa Erba. George Clooney and Brad Pitt are two of the lead actors in the particular film. Gwen Stefani also had her music video shoot for her song “Cool” around Lake Como.

The area surrounding the lake has also been the home of several popular celebrities such as George Clooney, who acquired the Villa L’Oleandra in Laglio in 2001. The actor and his Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis have been followed around by the paparazzi in the small town just to get some photographs. Clooney have become an honorary son of the Lake Como region because of all these. Sir Richard Branson, Matthew Bellamy, Ronaldhino and the late fashion designer Gianni Versace also own villas in Lake Como.

At present, Como has become one of Europe’s most famous tourist destinations for celebrities who want sophistication, glamor and style sans the glitz and limelight. Regular visitors of Lake Como include former Spice Girls member Victoria Beckham and her husband David, Tom Cruise, Elton John and many more. The villas have been popular as well because they are owned by actors or have been selected as the shooting locations for various movies. Oasis’ Liam Gallagher, Stereophonics, Sasha Baron Cohen, David Hasselhoff and other people from the different fields such as politics, music, film and sports have all frequented Lake Como.

Indeed, the wonderful scenery of the lake has charmed many people to come to the area and explore the rich cultural heritage of Lake Como through the villas and the lake itself.

The residents of the Lake Como became evangelized with the efforts of Saints like St. Abbondio and St. Felix.  During the time of Christianity’s rise, several tribes like the Goths and the Huns noticed Como’s flourishing economy. These two tribes repeatedly conquered the town and imposed heavy taxes on the people. Como became free when Charlemagne’s army defeated the Longobards who had been ruling the area in 774.

During the 12^th century, Milan posed threat to Como. Como’s beautiful churches such as the Sant’Abbondio, San Fedele, San Giacomo and San Carpoforo were constructed around those times. In 1158, Frederick I Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor, took the efforts to protect Como from Milan by building several defense towers.

The area fell under the Spanish rule for two centuries after the unsuccessful rule by the French. Como experienced unjust taxation measures and a great decline in their economy. When Charles VI successfully invaded Como, the tax measures by the Spaniards were removed and this step helped the area’s economy to recover.

In 1859, Lake Como finally joined The Kingdom of Italy after Giuseppe Garibaldi triumphed over the Austrians in the Battle of San Fermo. Architects, stonecutters, craftsmen, toolmakers and fishermen helped to build the town once again.

In 1945-1965, people were traumatized by the idea of visiting the lake because Mussolini and Claretta Petacci, his mistress, were captured in Dongo and were killed in Mezzegra in 1945. A few decades later, Como became popular for its silk and textile, furniture and design industries. It has also become a a very famous tourist destination. The town was able to maintain its “small town” atmosphere to reduce the appearance of the Lake Como as being too crowded.

To commemorate Lake Como’s rich history, several festivals are held every year such as the Festival of San Giovanni in the Island of Comacina. This is celebrated with amazing fireworks and beautifully adorned boats scattered on the lake. The boats carry snail shells that have olive oil and lighted to provide illumination.

Sailing

Dubbed as the sailor’s paradise, sailing is one popular activity that guests look forward to in Lake Como. It offers the perfect sailing condition with the Breva and Tivano winds blowing from the South side. Finding a sailboat to rent in the area is not that difficult, in fact, there are a number of sailboats for rent that you can easily find around Lake Como as well as in Domaso and Bellagio. Renting a sailboat can cost you more than a hundred euros but you can already take four to ten people with you in the sailboat depending on what kind of boat you choose to rent. International guests who want to learn the basics of sailing should give Ease-Away a try which provides sailing lessons in English. Ease-away offers fabulous sailing trips customized according to the client’s specific needs.

Fishing

Engulfed with amazing bodies of water, Lake Como is definitely an ideal fishing destination. The best time to fish in Lake Como is during the late Summer. This is because fish usually spawn around the end of July and early September. If you are planning to fish in Lake Como, you need to first secure a fishing license in any of its provincial offices, which will cost you about twenty Euros.

Boating

This is yet another water activity that is famous in the area. A number of companies provide cheap boat rentals to tourists. Riding a boat will allow you to see the unobstructed views of churches and villas enveloping Lake Como. Boating offers guests with a great and amazing way to explore the city. Boat tours are provided by private companies and will likely cost you 60 Euros per hour. Boat tours are perfect if you are travelling with a big group. Availing a boat tour package can actually help you save money.

Swimming

Guests who are into swimming should head to the northern part of Lake Como. Beaches abound in norther towns like Gravedona and Domaso. In addition, the cleanest and spacious beaches are present here. People visiting Lake Como during the summer usually swarm the northern towns to take a refreshing dip. The cool water coupled with the scenic surroundings make tourists feel as if they are having a luxurious summer getaway in the Caribbean.

Hotel Griso

This hotel is just a fifteen minute walk from the city center of Lecco. Rooms in the hotel are equipped with large windows and a balcony offering an amazing view of Lake Como. Guestrooms are air-conditioned and come with a mini bar and a flat screen television with satellite. Sweet and savory breakfast is served to guests staying in Hotel Griso every morning.

Hotel Brittania Excelsior

Set in Lake Como’s shores, this nineteenth century inn offers tastefully decorated and well-appointed guestrooms. The rooms are adorned by beautiful antique furniture and luxury fabric linens. Hotel Brittannia Excelsior is located just fifty meters away from the landing dock of Cardenabbia. The hotel offers its guests with free wi-fi access (in the lobby only) and free parking. All of the hotel’s guestrooms are equipped with a clean, private bathroom (with shower), satellite television, and hairdryer. Some rooms even come with a balcony while others offer amazing views of the Bellagio. The in-house restaurant in the hotel,meanwhile, provides tasty Italian cuisine. Every morning, guests are served with a hearty continental breakfast.

Albergo Le Due Corti

The Historic Hotel Le Due Corti can be found in Lake Como’s oldest district, which is just ten minutes away from cafes and shops. Guests staying in this hotel will enjoy quiet and peaceful rooms equipped with ironing facilities and satellite tv. If you get bored in your room, you can go out and take a dip in the hotel’s outdoor pool. The hotel also has an excellent restaurant where guests can sample tasty and scrumptious foods.

Other great lodging options in Lake Como include the Villa Vincia, Hotel San Gerolamo, NH Pontevecchio, Hotel Bellavista, Hotel Aurora and Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni – Belagio.