From the Lecco branch to the Como branch, a journey through the most beautiful hotels and restaurants to enjoy the thousand colors of the Lario, from the Latin “Larius,” the term used by the Romans to indicate Lake Como.

Lake Como, thanks also to its magical panoramas and mild climate that favors the creation of wonderful gardens, has been the protagonist of elite tourism since the early nineteenth century, which has led to the construction, on its shores, of some of the most beautiful hotels and villas in the world.

Our itinerary, to discover some of its most beautiful gardens and places, begins in the center of Como at Vista Palazzo, a 5-star hotel located in the central Piazza Cavour.

The wonderful hotel hosts the Infinity Bar on the top floor, much loved by all the regulars of Lake Como for its panoramic terrace, perfect for an aperitif with a view and for a sweet or savory break, taking advantage of the all-day menu.

Narrated by writers of all times, including Stendhal who described it as “sublime” in La Chartreuse de Parme, Lake Como is today experiencing great artistic and cultural ferment, in which its timeless panoramas coexist with top international hospitality projects.

Alternatively, you can book at the Posta Design Hotel, in via Giuseppe Garibaldi, and enjoy, from the privileged position of the dehor of the very popular Posta Bistrot, the life that flows lively in the many local bars at aperitif time.

Lake Como has always been synonymous with flowers and wonderful gardens, so the bistro and osteria Figli dei Fiori is just perfect for a charming dinner. Housed in an old greenhouse from the 1920s, it is a world dedicated to flowers, beauty and good food prepared just as it should be, with love and a lot of research.

The next morning, we set off for the eastern branch of Lake Como. Nestled on the cliffs of Pognana, you cannot miss a stop for the night or a lunch with a view at Villa Làrio, a wonderful resort that combines the romantic drama of the deepest lake in Italy with the charm of the Dolce Vita of its rich shores.

The exclusive boutique property consists of several suites and villas immersed in 2 acres of centuries-old park, a restaurant, lounge bars, an infinity pool and a private dock for mooring boats. From here, suggestive trips can be organized aboard the resort’s Riva motorboat to discover the nearby villages, complete with a gourmet picnic basket prepared by the chef.

From Villa Làrio, in just 30 minutes you can reach the splendid Bellagio, famous for its long flowered lake, where you can visit the Gardens of Villa Melzi, a great declaration of love for Italian art that has lasted, uninterrupted, for over 200 years.

Commissioned by the Milanese Francesco Melzi d’Eril, a prominent figure in Italian politics, a personal friend of Napoleon who made him Vice President of the First Italian Republic, they have, in fact, always remained the property of the same family that has kept them intact over the centuries in total respect of the original landscape design.

The gardens are also famous for 2 of the most photographed places on Lake Como: the Oriental Garden, with its water lily pond and bucolic wrought iron bridge, and the white and blue Moresco Kiosk, built to host coffee breaks, a fashion of the time it was built.

In the evening, you can book, a few km from Bellagio, at Filario, the only design hotel on this shore of Lake Como and also the only one to offer a romantic private beach with beach bar, perfect for a drink at sunset and for a magical awakening with a “panoramic” breakfast on its terrace.

From here, by ferry or aboard a vintage motorboat, you can move to the western shore of Lake Como to visit Villa del Balbianello, an elegant and romantic 18th-century residence left by its last owner, Guido Monzino, who bequeathed it to the FAI in 1988. Its stunning garden overlooking the lake has prompted many Hollywood directors to set famous sagas here, such as Star Wars and 007.

Not far away, you can visit another jewel of the FAI: La Velarca, a houseboat moored in one of the most beautiful bends of Lake Como, between Tremezzina and Como, designed as a private residence by the most important creatives of the golden age of design, the 1960s.

To sleep, you can book, not far away, Musa, a 5-star design boutique hotel, the only one overlooking the romantic Isola Comacina, with a panoramic pool and the allure of the most exclusive private residences on Lake Como.

You can enjoy the sunset, with the spectacle of the lake that begins to color blue while the first lights of the mountains and the surrounding villages come on, by booking at ROTEO, the fine dining restaurant of the hotel managed by chefs Robert Moretti and Matteo Corridori, childhood friends who grew up on the lake and who, after starred experiences all over the world, have fulfilled their dream of hospitality here.

In the morning, on the way back, you can take a break in Laglio at Bottega e Caffè da Luciano, an institution in the area, a “neighbor” of Villa Oleandra, George Clooney’s summer residence, famous for its meat cutting boards and vintage ice cream cart.

From there, in 15 minutes you can reach Cernobbio where the famous Villa d’Este and the Gatto Nero Restaurant are located, which, without needing any introduction, will make you end this wonderful journey to discover Lake Como in style, and probably in excellent company.

In particular, Villa d’Este is not just a top destination; it is a residence that has made history and, above all, continues to make it.

One of the most famous luxury hotels in the world, in every season it offers wonderful experiences for its guests, from dinners on the lake at the Sundeck restaurant in the summer to the Chocolate bar and light show during the Christmas period.

And perhaps right here you can breathe in all the magic of Lake Como.