A Canadian in Italy

Guest Post: Welcome to Lake Como!

23 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment

by eloradaphne in Guest Bloggers, Italy, Things to See Tags: como, Expat, guest blog, Italy, lake, Lake Como

A while back, I received an email from Chiara, who said that she really liked me blog and what I wrote about. She also told me she has a website and blog where she writes about her area, Lake Como. She asked if she could write a guest post about Lake Como on my blog. So I thought, hey, what a great idea! Maybe I should make it a monthly thing…what do you think? So, if you would like to be next month’s guest blogger, get in touch! Remember, it has to be about Italy, expat life, or food (that one is always welcome!)

For now though, let’s enjoy Chiara’s post…

Welcome to Lake Como!



Lake Como is the third largest river basin in northern Italy.  This sizable northern Italian lake has three forks which give the lake its curious inverted “y” shape.

Ideally located in the midst of the Italian alps, Lake Como has long been appreciated by visitors from northern Europe who come to find a glimpse of the Mediterranean in the mountains. The lake is loved by those coming from big cities as it is a destination that offers both peace and quiet and a pleasantly mild climate.
The Lake Como landscape is very varied.  From beside the lake’s green waters, visitors can admire the surrounding snow-capped mountains.  On the shores and around the lake, quaint villages sit alongside larger lakeside towns.
The climate is always mild.  In summer it is easy to escape the heat by venturing up into the cool of the mountains.  During the winter months, the climate is kept mild by the combination of the lake and the shelter by the mountains around it.
Lake Como offers sports enthusiasts plenty of opportunities:  from water sports like sailing, diving, and water skiing, to mountain activities such as skiing, hiking, and climbing, as well as a wealth of other outdoor and indoor sports.
The easiest way to reach Lake Como’s main towns is to travel from one of the three nearby airports such as Milan’s Linate and Malpensa airports and Bergamo’s Orio al Serio airport. From Malpensa Airport, Como’s western shores can be reached by taking the Malpensa Express rail service to Saronno.  The lake can be reached directly from Malpensa airport by catching a number 250 bus.  From Orio al Serio airport you can catch a train from the nearby railway station of Bergamo to travel to Lecco from which the entire eastern shore of Lake Come is easily accessible.
For those who prefer travelling by train, the city of Como and the western shore of the lake can be reached in around an hour by catching an Italian national railway FS train from Milan’s central station.  As an alternative, there are trains which leave from Milan’s Cadorna station to the city of Como and Saronno.  To reach Lecco and the eastern shore of Lake Como, take FS trains on these lines: Milan-Lecco-Sondrio-Tirano, Sondrio-Brescia-Lecco, Sesto San Giovanni and Monza-Lecco, and Como-Lecco-Molteno.
Como is a 50 km (30 miles) drive away from Milan and the quickest way to get there by car is by taking A9 Como-Chiasso road.
For more information on Lake Como and northern Italy’s other lovely lakes and to find out about what is going on around them: such as festivals, shows, concerts, exhibitions and sporting events, pay a visit to Italy Lakes.net blog.
To book a holiday or a short stay in the Como area, try the website of Vacanze Lago, a tour operator which specializes in organizing vacations around all of Italy’s northern lakes.