Best Villages Near Lago di Como in Italy

In addition to being a natural site of extreme beauty, on the shores of Lake Como are some of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Famous for their imposing villas and postcard-perfect streets and buildings, the villages of the area are also in an incomparable setting on the shores of the lake and backed by the mountains of the Alps. It is, therefore, a perfect visit for those who have already seen all that Milan has to offer.

The list of villages worth visiting is very extensive and therefore in this post I have left you a list of the ten that, in my opinion and in the opinion of many, are the most beautiful in the area. If you want to know more about how to make the visit, here you can read about the best excursions to Lake Como from Milan and in this article, how to reach the area from the city.

The first village on this list is one of the most important of Lago Di Como and one of the must-see on any trip to the lake.

This is due to its privileged geographical location. The lake is shaped like an inverted "y" and Bellagio is located right at the intersection between the three "legs" in the center of the lake, which makes it the focal point for visitors to the region.

Its steep streets, stately homes, villas and historic center also contribute to making it the most famous tourist town on the lake.

To make the most of the visit to this town we will need at least half a day that we can dedicate to explore its streets, the beautiful promenade of "Lungolago Europa" that runs along part of the shores of the lake or the Spartivento point located in the northernmost part of Bellagio and offers one of the best views of Lake Como. In summer you can also enjoy some of the artificial beaches that are in the surrounding area.

Varenna is a small fishing village located a little north of Bellagio. There are many who point to this village as the most beautiful of all those of Lake Como and although that is subjective, the truth is that it has more than enough merits to be considered so.

It is a very picturesque village thanks to the colors of its streets and houses and its abundant floral decoration. In fact it is a very romantic destination and one of its main attractions is the Paseo del Amor, or in Italian "Passeggiata Degli Innamorati". A pedestrian walkway covered with vegetation and beautiful views of the lake that connects the pier with the historic center of town.

The center is one of its attractions with the Church of San Giorgio and San Giovanni Battista as emblems. in addition to the Villa Monastero famous for its botanical garden and the Castle of Vezio from which you get one of the best views of the entire lake. A must-see destination without a doubt.

Just on the opposite shore to Varenna is the village of Menaggio. It is a small town of about 3000 inhabitants but full of charming corners.

It ispart of the most touristic nucleus of Lake Como together with the two previous towns in this list. The center of Menaggio is divided into two parts. The upper part in which there are several churches among narrow streets that are worth visiting as the Church of Santo Stefano or Santa Marta. This is the most historical part and the other is the promenade along the lake.

The area closest to the shore is perfect for pleasant walks or relaxing with a gelato while enjoying the lake views. Along the promenade next to its luxurious hotels it is also common to find craft stalls or lavender stalls.

In summer there is also a beach for a refreshing swim. An ideal town for a relaxing visit and one of the most recommended if you are looking for accommodation for several days.

As a curiosity, Tremezzo is a very new locality that was born in 2014 from the union of several communities of the towns of Lenno, Ossuccio, Tremezzo and Mezzegra.

Despite its recent history and small size, Tremezzo has several places that are worth going to it to discover. Perhaps the most popular is the Hotel Tremezzo, a building that is easily recognized for being the largest and most prominent in the village and famous throughout the lake for its luxury and for its floating pools that are set up in summer.

Just outside Tremezzo, but very close by, is Villa Carlota. A villa that does justice to the fame of these Lake Como palaces, it dates back to the 17th century and its interior contains several works of art from the same period and its gardens are a popular attraction for visitors.

Tremezzo is also a good destination for hiking enthusiasts as it is located at the foot of the Tremezzo mountain which offers several beautiful but demanding routes, but which reward you with spectacular views.

Brienno is an almost hidden village located on the western shore of the lake in front of the village of Nesso. And I say almost hidden because it is one of the smallest, in fact its population is only about 500 inhabitants. But it is a highly recommended destination especially for those who love art. The origin of the village is medieval and its jewels are its churches of Romanesque origin.

The two most important are the churches of Saints Nazarius and Celso. Both of Romanesque origin, but restored to have a Baroque appearance, inside you can admire some beautiful painted stained glass windows of the fourteenth century and frescoes of the sixteenth century by G.P. Recchi.

Another church is that of S. Vittore of which only its bell tower is preserved almost sunk into the lake. If you have the opportunity, visit Brienno at night because the whole town illuminates its buildings in different colors and gives us a postcard worthy of remembering.

Following the road that runs along the eastern shore leaving the city of Como you will arrive after just 20 minutes to the beautiful town of Torno.

This town was once one of the most important in the area of Lago di Como thanks to the textile trade, which is reflected in its buildings. Or rather in the remains of its great buildings since it was almost destroyed by the Spaniards in 1522.

But the remains of its military buildings contribute to the charm of the town being the remains of the castle wall its main symbol. Torno is also one of the best gastronomic destinations in the region thanks to its numerous restaurants. Many of them with beautiful terraces overlooking the lake.

If what strikes you most about Lago Di Como are its luxurious and imposing villas, Cernobbio is the best village to visit.

Originally a humble fishing village, it underwent a great change that turned it into one of the most frequented luxury tourist destinations by the wealthy class from all over Europe.

The best example of this is the Villa del Este. A neoclassical palace from 1568 that today is one of the most luxurious hotels in Europe and recognized on several occasions as the best hotel in the world.

Although this hotel is not suitable for the pockets of the vast majority of mortals, Cernobbio has many other charms for which to know it. The town has a beautiful historic center known as "La Riva" and an equally beautiful lakeside promenade.

Cernobbio is located right next to the city of Como, which is the main access point to the lake, and visiting it is extremely convenient.

With so many villages to see, it is easy for some of them to be forgotten. This is the case of Nesso, but not to be underestimated, since this small town is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful and has one of the most special corners of Lake Como.

This corner is known as the Ponte della Civera, a small medieval bridge that crosses a very narrow canyon where two streams flow into the lake with a beautiful waterfall.

In addition to this small and magical corner, the village is very picturesque thanks to its colorful facades, some of them covered with vegetation. The great advantage of being less touristy is that you can discover Nesso without the usual crowds of other more touristy villages. For a reason it is considered the hidden jewel of Lago Di Como.

A little further north of Cernobbio is Moltrasio. This is one of the most "natural" villages of the lake and I say natural since this town has many green areas and even from the lake it seems to be lost in a forest.

It is also a source of resources such as the so-called gray stone with which have been built from the roads of the lake to some works of art.

Of Moltrasio highlights its well-known market of regional products and the villa Passalacqua. The latter is one of the best villas that can be visited on Lake Como for an entrance fee. From the villa located on the shores of the lake you can visit almost everything, from its beautiful gardens to the spectacular rooms inside.

In Moltrasio water recreational activities are also common and there are many companies that offer boat trips and the possibility of doing water sports. A mix that makes it a very interesting destination in Lago Di Como.

Last on this list, and no less relevant or beautiful for that, are the towns of Ossuccio and Lenno. I include them together as these two adjoining towns have practically merged into one due to the growth of both.

In these two villages there are movie locations. And I say cinematic because one of them has been the setting for such famous movies as Star Wars or James Bond. This place is the village of Balbianello at the tip of a small peninsula in the middle of the two towns.

This film location can be visited and although the entrance fee is somewhat expensive, around 20 euros, it is well worth the visit because in few places you will see gardens and a villa more beautiful than this.

The other great attraction of these villages, in this case linked to Ossuccio, is the Sacro Monte di Ossuccio. This sanctuary is located on a crag on the mountain that shelters both villages and is part of the group known as Sacred Mounts of Piedmont and Lombardy, which was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Apart from these two points, the villages of Ossuccio and Lenno, like all those on this list, have enough charm to spend some time strolling through their streets, especially along the quays and promenades on the shores of Lake Di Como.