WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN & AROUND BELLAGIO

BELLAGIO:

• VILLA MELZI

Magnificent summer residence built for Francesco Melzi d'Eril, friend and political associate of Napoleon Bonaparte, at the turn of the 19 th century. Its English style gardens are full of azaleas and rhododendrons. The villa is closed to the public. Entrance permitted to the small family chapel, the small museum and the Moorish outlook on the lakeside.
Open daily from 9am to 6pm
Entrance fee: 6,00 euro per person
For further information contact: Mrs Daniela Vaninetti email: daniela@giardinidivillamelzi.it www.giardinidivillamelzi.it

• VILLA SERBELLONI

Property of the Rockefeller Foundation since 1959, the spectacular views from the top of the promontory of the three arms of the lake.
Open every day except Mondays and in the event of bad weather
Can only be visited on a guided tour twice a day, at 11am and 4pm.
Tours run for a minimum of 6 people and maximum of 30 and last approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Meeting point: Promobellagio office, ground floor of the medieval tower in the church square in the upper part of the historic centre of Bellagio
Group visits must be booked in advance
Entrance fee:7,00 euro per person – Groups 5,50 euro per person (min 20 pax)
For further information contact Promobellagio:
Tel and fax 031 951555 E-mail: promobellagio@virgilio.it

• MUSEUM OF NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

A private collection of over 200 nautical objects from 18 th century Venetian telescopes to compasses and solar clocks, a collection of marine chronometers and a brass planetarium.
Opening times: 10am-1pm in the afternoon only on appointment.
Location: In the hamlet of San Giovanni, Piazza Don Miotti (30 minutes' walk from historic centre)
For further information contact: Tel. 031 950309 www.bellagiomuseo.com
WALKS & HIKES
Three different self-guided walking itineraries are available from the Tourist Information office (by the lake) and the Promobellagio office (in the medieval tower in the main church square in the upper part of town).
For mountain hikes, a specialised Italian-speaking mountain guide can escort you.
Contact details: www.bellagiolakecomo.com section TOURIST SERVICE

• SPORTING & LEISURE ACTIVITIES

Amongst the various things you can do in Bellagio, you can try various sporting activities, water-sports and non .... let these sports entice you so that you can have an enjoyable time in our town ....
Contact details: www.bellagiolakecomo.com section SPORT
Golf: The nearest golf club to Bellagio is in Grandola ed Uniti in the hills above Menaggio on the other side of the lake. 18-hole golf course set in spectacular surroundings. 20 minutes from Bellagio .
www.menaggio.it E-mail: segreteria@golfclubmenaggio

TREMEZZO:

• VILLA CARLOTTA

Late 17 th-century villa originally built as a summer residence and Italian State property. Splendid park with rare plants, particularly well known for its azaleas and rhododendrons.
Interesting works of art inside the villa. Bar facilities in the gardens.
Open daily from 9am to 6pm from April-September
9am-11:30am and 2:00pm-4.30pm in March, October and November
Entrance fees: €7,00
for further information: Tel. 0344-40405 www.villacarlotta.it

LENNO:

• VILLA BALBIANELLO

Italian National Trust property since 1988, the villa was originally built at the end of the 18 th century for a Cardinal. Inside, a great collection of art works, antique furniture and carpets.
Gardens open every day except Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00am – 6pm
Interiors can only be visited with a guide and with advanced reservation (Tel: 0344 56110)
Entrance fee to the gardens: € 5 per person
Entrance fee for both interiors & gardens: € 8,00 per person + cost for guide

VARENNA:

• VILLA MONASTERO

Ex Cistercian monastery built in the 13 th century and transformed to a noble residence in the 17 th century. Since 1936 it is an international scientific and cultural study centre set in magnificent gardens which can be visited from April to October.
Opening times: 9am – 6pm
Entrance fee: € 2,50 per person (gardens only)
Joint ticket can be purchased to enter the gardens at Villa Cipressi at the reduced cost of € 4,00 per person and € 7,50 per person including the interiors of Villa Monastero
For further information contact: 0341 830129

• VILLA CIPRESSI

A neoclassical villa now used as a hotel.
The gardens can be visited from April to October.
Opening times: 9am – 6pm
Entrance fee: € 2,50 per person
For further information, contact: 0341 830113

ISOLA COMACINA:

Lake Como's only island, in bygone times a fortress and the wealthiest area on the lake before being completely destroyed in 1169. Now no longer inhabited. There are some ruins and remains of an old basilica from ancient times.
Bar and restaurant on the island. The restaurant has a set menu and price.

COMO:

Capital town of the lake – Particularly interesting Cathedral from the end of the 14 th century, the Romanesque church of San Fedele, the Voltian Temple (replicas of apparatus used by Alessandro Volta, inventor of the battery and pioneer of electricity), Civic Museum of Archaeology and the magnificent Villa Olmo on the lakeside.
Funicular railway to Brunate for breathtaking views over the town.

PIONA:

13 th century Cistercian Abbey – an oasis of peace. Bar facilities and shop selling monks' goods amongst which the "Gocce Imperiali" – at 90° proof, the remedy to all ailments! 11 th century church and beautiful cloister.

SERVICES CONTACTS

• LAKE TOURS AND WATER TAXIS:

An alternative to the public boats it to hire a water taxi with a driver. They can be hired by the hour, for half day or a full day depending on what you want to see. Since a private tour is a tailor-made one, for specific itineraries, contact private boat companies direct.

TAXI BOAT SERVICE – Tel e fax 031-950201 Cell. 335-5489728 E-mail: info@taxiboat.it www.taxiboat.it
BARINDELLI FILIPPO TAXI BOATS Tel. 031-951380 – Cell. 338-2110337 E-mail: filippobarindelli@virgilio.it

• TOUR GUIDES:

You may wish to enhance your visit and find out more about the history of the places you see and "bring them to life" by engaging the services of a qualified local guide.
Italy has a strict licensing policy and in order to qualify as a local guide, examinations are held annually. Examinees sit a written examination in Italian on the history, art and culture of a specific area followed by an oral examination both in Italian and in their chosen foreign language.
Contacts of licensed guides for Lake Como:

RITA ANNUNZIATA Tel and Fax 031-951637 Cell. 335-8435907 www.bellagio.co.nz/guides
E-mail: ritaannunziata@tin.it
ANNA MARIA GILARDONI Tel. 031-951151 Cell 335-5923768 www.bellagio.co.nz/guides
Email: annamaria.gilardoni@tin.it
MOUNTAIN WALKS GUIDE:
You may wish to have the re-assurance of the company of an expert mountain walks guide, someone who has an intimate knowledge of every path and track in the area.
Mountain walks guides also have to sit an examination following extensive on-site training.
Contacts:
PIERLUIGI GANDOLA Tel & Fax 031-952493 Cell. 339-5308136
www.trekkingmontagna.com E-mail: info@trekkingmontagna.com

• TRAVEL AGENCY:

Private tours, guides and/or cars with driver, hotel reservations and more can be booked through a local travel Agency. Contacts.
IC BELLAGIO – Tel 031-952059 fax 031-952114 www.icbellagio.com E-mail: icbellagio@icbellagio.com