At the foot of the Italian Alps in the Northern Italian region of Lombardy, Lake Como and its surrounds has been renowned for centuries as a playground for VIPs, with its bounty of exclusive boutiques, yacht clubs, and villas set against innumerable fairytale villages.

Yet it’s also been a source of inspiration for countless artists and intellectuals dating back to ancient times, from Pliny the Elder to Leonardo da Vinci, thanks to its diverse cuisine, natural beauty, and an ever-evolving, international cultural heritage.