Lake Como, Italy and the surrounding area.

As well as enjoying the outstanding natural beauty and countryside at our Lake Como villa, there is lots to see and do in the surrounding area, from enjoying the delights of the local Italian cuisine to cycling, sailing, walking and winter sports.

Cycling Routes in and around Lake Como.

Enjoy mountain biking from the doorstep of Villa Rustica or road biking from the top of the track, a short walk from the villa. The surrounding area is ideal and popular with cyclists, with numerous tracks and routes. For more information about the wonderful cycling in this area, or for information on local guides, visit:

Link: Pedalario

Link: Bikemap.net

Link: Local Routes

Link: Madonna del Ghisallo

Walking from our villa at Lake Como.

You can enjoy some fantastic walks from the villa, either by following a well marked path (Sentiero) or by exploring the hills above Albonico. A short drive to Verceia (the village on the other side of the lake opposite the house) and you can explore Valle dei Ratti or continue up Valchiavenna or Valtellina. For more information about walking in this beautiful corner of Italy visit:

Link: Local walks

Link: Sentiero Life

Link: Summitpost

Link: Alto Lario

Link: Via dei Monti Lariani

The wildlife of Lake Mezzola and the surrounding area.

Lago Di Mezzola sits in the Pian Di Spagna nature reserve offering a haven of natural wildlife along the southern edge of the lake and the River Mera that connects Lago di Mezzola and Lago di Como. There are several other nature reserves in Valtellina a short drive away from Villa Rustica. For more information visit:

Link: Pian di Spagna

Link: Val di Mello

Winter Sports.

Follow Valchiavenna and be on the ski slopes of Madesimo within a couple of hours. It’s a 30 mile (50 km) drive or for a unique experience, leave the car at Campodolcino and take the funicular railway to the slopes. Alternatively, St Moritz is just 50 miles (80 km) away. Both resorts offer great downhill skiing, cross country skiing, tobogganing and skidoos.

Link: Val Malenco ski resort

Link: Madesimo ski resort

Link: Alto Lario

Summer Sports.

Lago di Mezzola has power boat speed restrictions and therefore is the ideal place to enjoy quieter water sports. Hire a boat and explore, walk twenty minutes along the roman path to Dascio and hire a canoe or take the day trip boat to San Fedelino for a great day out.

Alternatively, head down to the town of Gera Lario which is a twenty minute drive (or a short trip down the River Mera) and you can enjoy sailing, windsurfing, kite surfing, wake-boarding and water-ski lessons. For the more adventurous, rock climbing, paragliding and canyoning are all a short drive away. Have a look through the links below for more information, or contact us.

Link: 414 Kiting (recommended and multilingual)

Link: Lake Como Adventures

Link: Meravelia sailing

Link: Taboo

Link: Alto Lario

Gardens, villas and museums of Lake Como, Italy.

By car or ferry, you can visit some of the famous villas and gardens of Lake Como. Take the ferry to Tremezzo and explore the gardens of Villa Carlotta on your way to lunch on the only island on Lake Como, Comacina. Closer to home you can visit:

Link: Villa Carlotta

Link: Comacina

Link: Piona Abbey - Colico

Link: Villa Balbianello

Link: Boat Museum - Pianello del Lario

Link: Colico military fort

Local restaurants.

From our villa at Lake Como there is a great variety of places to eat, drink and soak up the local Italian atmosphere. The Enoteca Portovino on the edge of the old marina in Colico is a real treat in both summer and winter. Eating at a local Agriturismo, where they tend to serve a local set menu, is an inexpensive way to try local cuisine or why not just walk to the restaurants of Dascio.

Link: Agriturismo Giacomino

Link: Porto Vino

Shopping.

There are numerous places to buy food in the area, all within a short drive. These include weekly markets, local bakeries, supermarkets and a shopping mall. There are also many boutiques, clothes and sports shops.