Lake Como - Italy's Lake District
Lake Como, also called Lario, is the third largest Italian lake after Garda and Maggiore. It is one of the most picturesque of the Pre-alpine lakes and the only one of
the three large northern lakes to be situated entirely in Lombardy. It lies in a valley scoured out by the ancient Adda glacier and is unusually shaped like an upside-down Y, with three branches
running from Colico in the north, Como in the south west and Lecco in the south east.
The point where the three branches meet is called the centre and is the most interesting part on account of its beautiful panoramic views. Como has about forty tributaries, the most important being the Mera and the Adda. The latter is the only outlet river and it flows out at the most southern point of the Lecco branch.
The climate in this area is generally mild, especially in the centre, which makes it very suitable for winter holidays. The lakeside vegetation is luxuriant - rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and olive groves flourish, and lemon trees, date palms and other subtropical plants grow in sheltered areas. There are attractive tourist resorts with many gardens and fine country houses all along the lakeside.
The most popular of these are in the centre where the most important health resorts of Bellagio, Tremezzo, Cadenabbia and Menaggio are situated. Cernobbio, Gravedona, Bellano and Varenna are also interesting places, and Como and Lecco are well known tourist centres.
Trains run from Milan to Como and Lecco and all the way down the east side. Roads are in excellent condition and make it possible to drive, also a regular ferry service connects the towns on each side.