LAKE COMO - winter

Visit of Como and boat trip on the lake looking at its beautiful "villas".

With a surface of 146 square kilometers, Lake Como is the third- largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Verbano. Its peculiar shape - a Y turned upside down - is due to its three branches: Colico, the northern branch, Lecco, the south east branch and Como, the south west branch, with a perimeter totalling 170 km; its maximum length, between Gera and Cernobbio, is 50 km; its maximum width, between Fiumelatte and Cadenabbia, is 4.4 km, whereas its minimum width, between Careno and Toriggia, is 650 m; between Como and Argegno, the lake reaches a depth of 410 m (it's the deepest lake in Europe). Average altitude above sea level is 199 m. The whole lake is surrounded by mountains. The highest is Monte Legnone (2609 m), over Colico. The lake has 37 tributaires. The most important is the river Adda. The only island on the Lake is Isola Comacina facing the village of Sala Comacina, on the Como branch.
Along the shores, in particular from Cernobbio to Gravedona and Bellagio, you will see wonderful villas and gardens with plenty of flowers as well as exotic and rare plants. For instance, Villa d'Este at Cernobbio, which is today a luxurious hotel, has a magnificent garden.
During the last century Como gained world fame because of the novel “The Betrothed”, by Alessandro Manzoni, set on the Lecco branch of the Lake.

PROGRAM

09.00 Departure from Zani Viaggi Travel Agency, Foro Bonaparte 76 (MM1, Cairoli stop)

10.00 Arrival at Como and visit of the city centre.
Free time for further visits, shopping and lunch.

14.45 Panoramic boat cruise on the lake.

16.00 Transfer by bus to the Basilica S. Abbondio (beautiful Romanesque church with precious frescos).

17.00 Departure for return trip

18.00 Foro Bonaparte 76, Milano

NOTE Times subjected to organization and/or traffic problems.