Romantic fishing villages, majestic mountains reflecting in the clear surface of the lake, magnificent villas surrounded by lush tropical gardens, and delightful mountain villages—all connected by scenic routes that stretch along the coast and then through the mountains, each stop easily reachable by train.
The Lecco shore of Lake Como is less known than its Como counterpart, but it is now the protagonist of a well-deserved rediscovery—thanks also to the development and promotion of the Sentiero del Viandante and the Via dello Spluga.
With its beautiful squares overlooking the lake, the charming Lecco enjoys a privileged position and a lakeside promenade perfect for a stroll accompanied by an ice cream (but beware of swans and ducks, as they are fond of it)—a simple pleasure that visitors to Como find it hard to enjoy with such tranquility.
The journey then continues to Varenna, a village with pastel tones adorned with flowered balconies, lush tropical gardens, and a romantic lakeside promenade known as the "Via dell’Amore" (Path of Love)—and romantic it is, even just for the pergola that adorns it in the right season; you can also visit Villa Monastero, a triumph of eclecticism surrounded by a beautiful botanical garden: the impressive variety of hosted flora includes various exotic species that, though far from their place of origin, have found in the mild lake climate the perfect condition to thrive.
We head to the mysterious Castle of Vezio: the castle dominates the lake, offering one of the most beautiful panoramas of the region, with the two branches of Lake Como merging into a sparkling expanse of freshwater—in the local dialect, known as "akuaduulza"—corresponding to Bellagio. The journey concludes in Colico, the last village overlooking the Lecco shore of the lake, at the foot of Monte Legnone (the highest mountain on Lake Como, with its 2609 meters).
