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Lake Como, the northern Italian beauty spot adored by celebrities such as George Clooney, is a must-see destination. However, its popularity has led to overcrowding, particularly in the bustling town of Varenna. Tourists have taken to TripAdvisor to voice their frustrations about the congestion, especially during the peak summer season. One disgrun...

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Once you finally reach Bellagio, set as it is at the tip of a pointy landmass in the middle of Lake Como, the first thing that may strike you is how small it is, especially given its larger-than-life reputation. This is the town — calling it a city would be an overstatement — that’s wowed Roman emperors, Austrian archdukes, Romantic poets, Fascist...

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The Italian Lakes are glimmering, glacier-made bodies of water in northern Italy. Maggiore, Como and Garda are the three largest, and each is ringed with picturesque villages and backed by steep mountains. The biggest reason to visit is the spectacular scenery, but there's lots more to do besides admiring the views from a shoreline dining room. You...

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Lake Como has long been a popular getaway for holidaymakers seeking an elegant lakeside retreat, with the towns of Bellagio and Como attracting tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of visitors a year. Its appeal is by no means new. Lake Como was one of the major luxury European hotspots of the 1960s, providing a haven for Hollywood stars and wealthy...

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Lake Como conveys notions of easy elegance and the Italian art of slow living, and has come to stand for something bigger than it is. Officially called Lario, Italy’s third-biggest lake has been drawing visitors since the 18th century, when it was a popular stop for European nobles on their grand tours. More recently, it stepped into the spotlight...

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Villa Monastero, in Varenna, is a gem set in the breathtaking panorama of Lake Como, a place that embodies the beauty and history of the Province of Lecco. This ancient mansion, transformed from a Cistercian monastery to an elegant patrician residence, now offers itself to visitors as a House Museum and Botanical Garden, attracting lovers of histor...

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In recent years, overtourism has become a significant concern for many iconic locations worldwide, with several Italian cities at the forefront of this challenge. Picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage draw millions to our shores each year, but the surge in visitors often leaves local communities grappling with disrupted daily lives and...

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The landscape behind Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa has sparked endless debate, with some art historians suggesting the view was imaginary and idealised, and others claiming various links to specific Italian locations. Now a geologist and Renaissance art historian believes she has finally solved the mystery in one of the world’s most famous painting...

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Lake Como is glitzy, glamorous and engulfed by tourism. The third largest lake in Italy, it sees as many as 1.4 million visitors a year descend on its shores. The tourist numbers are proving overwhelming for the holiday hotspot in northern Italy, and one city is now considering introducing a tourist tax. Mayor of the lakeside city of Como Alessandr...

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The town of Bellagio basks in the spotlight as Lake Como’s crown jewel, but there’s a quieter haven across the lake, away from the masses, and it’s the perfect base to explore the extraordinary towns that lap Italy’s third-largest lake. Welcome to Lenno. A charming hamlet with a population of about 1800 some 20km northeast of Como, the closest trai...

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