Things to do

Near to the villa:

• Boat trips – ferries operate across and around the lake to various famous villas and villages
• Motor and sailing boats, from the boat yard close by are available to hire
• Two local restaurants within two minute walk and a wide selection within the vicinity
• Local bar
• Local hotel and restaurant
• Local village grocery shops, including gold star deli
• Small pebble beach in Laglio

Around the lake by car:

• Five renowned golf courses within 30 mins drive (see above photo)
• Historic villages and towns in easy reach
• Selection of factory outlet centres with in 20 mins
• Wonderful and colourful markets in local villages and in many of the main towns
• Horse riding within 20 mins drive
• Hiking routes, nearby
• Mountain biking, nearby
• Water park* 45mins drive
• Casino and night clubs 20 - 30 mins away

Around the lake by boat:

• Several piers for pleasure crafts are situated along the lake shore stopping at towns, villages and some the grand villas. The nearest pier is Urio (1.5km), larger choice at Moltrasio (5mins by car), Cernobbio (10 mins) or Como (15 mins). The timetable is available on the ferry company’s website (http:// www.navigazionelaghi.it) or from the pier in Como.

Como: (15 mins by car / ferry)

• Historic walled city with beautiful cathedral
• Wide variety of shops, including fashion, interiors, antiques, department store and food stores
• Boat trips
• Sea plane (http://www.aeroclubcomo.com)
• Funicular railway
• Silk museum
• Fashion outlet stores on outskirts of town
• Market
• Water ski school

Cernobbio: (10 mins by car / ferry)

• Villa Erba – used with various other local locations for 'Oceans 12' (see above photo)
• Villa D’Este
• Individual shops incl. fashion, interiors, antiques, beauty etc.
• Villa Erba – used with various other local locations for 'Oceans 12'
• Promenade (young set gather on Thurs eve)
• Boat trips
• Restaurants (some of the best on the lake) plus cafes and bars
• Sailing and waterskiing school

Lenno: (15 mins by car / ferry)

• Villa Balbianello – one of the most beautiful villas in Italy in terms of its location and gardens. The setting for scenes from Star Wars Attack of the Clones (see above photo) and Casino Royale with Daniel Craig
• Bike hire
• Lovely selection of lakeside restaurants
• Lido
• Lakeside tented nightclub and bar

Menaggio: (15 mins by car / ferry)

• Villa Carlotta – one of Italy’s most famous villas, with magnificent gardens (see above photo)
• Mid sized town with a selection of shops and restaurants on the lake
• Ferries to Bellagio, very pretty town in the mid point of Lake Como (http://www.bellagio.co.nz/)

Milan: (1 hour by car or train from Como)

• Designer shopping streets
• Shopping in Vittorio Emanuele Arcade
• Fantastic bars and restaurants
• La Scala Opera house
• 'Last Supper' by Da Vinci
• Historic squares with magnificent castle and cathedral
• San Siro, Stadium tours and home of AC Milan and Inter Milan
• Waterpark, on northern outskirts of town*
• Regular markets including superb monthly antique market

Switzerland: (20 mins from Como)

• Lake Luguno, 25mins
• Miniature village, 20 mins
• Large fashion outlet centre – Fox Town, 20 mins
• San Moritz, 1 ½ hours by car

Useful websites for more information:

• http://www.comolake.com/index.php?&lang=en_EN
• http://www.lakecomolifestyle.com/
• http://www.lagodicomo.com/english/laglio.php/
• http://www.comune.como.it/como/eng//
• http://www.italy-weather-and-maps.com/weather/CO//
• http://www.emmeti.it/Welcome/Golf/lombardia.uk.html
• http://www.centroveladervio.it/home.htm