LAKE COMO
Como lake
The Lario (Lake Como) is the third largest Italian lake, with a surface area of 146 sq. km.
Lake Como is the second deepest (410 metres) freshwater basin in Europe.
With its upside-down ‘Y’ shape, Lake Como offers some of the most
enchanting scenery in Italy.
Lake Como comprises three different parts: the Como branch to the south-west,
the Lecco branch to the south-east and the Colico branch (the ‘upper lake’) to the north.
The only island on Lake Como is Isola Comacina. Small in size,
it is rich in history.
To the north of the Lario, where the Mera and Adda rivers meet, we find the
Pian di Spagna natural oasis: a flat area of particular interest for its natural habitat.
The Lake Como ferry-boat sets off from Varenna to take passengers to Bellagio.
The quietest branch of the lake, this part features sheer rock faces and little shingle beaches.
Bellagio is certainly the most well-known locality. Situated at the tip of the
promontory dividing the three branches of Lake Como, it is famous for its villas
(Villa Melzi and Villa Serbelloni) and for its climb of Bellagio shops.
A sailing service crossing Lake Como is still active. It has been running for
almost 200 years now and the last remaining steam boats – the Concordia and the Patria –
are still working, showing their large paddle wheels in action.
The typical Lake Como dish is Misultin (dried lake shad).
The Lake Como climate is Lombard continental mellowed by the large mass of lake water.
It is colder in the Como branch and milder in the middle lake region and along the eastern Lecco side.
The Lake Como vegetation varies according to level: it is Mediterranean along the shores,
oaks and chestnuts dominate in the hills (500-800 metres a.s.l.), and beeches, firs,
larches and mugo pines are typical in the mountains. The upper heights also offer junipers,
rhododendrons, bilberries and green alders.
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