For anyone who’s a fan of Italy, the thought of the prettiest towns in Lake Como will conjure scenes of candy-hued facades whose reflections shimmy on the shimmering cobalt water of Italy‘s third-largest lake (after its siblings Lago Maggiore and Lago di Garda. For centuries, Italian high society mingled over fine wine along the spectacular waterfront villas, long before the lake started to draw well-heeled tourists and celebrities alike. Julius Caesar conquered Como in 49 BCE, and the city has the ruins to prove it, from marble columns along Via Cesare Cantù to the Roman baths of Viale Lecco, among other remnants, some of which have been converted into atmospheric accommodations.
The introduction of no-expenses-spared hotels in Lake Como has opened up the lake’s majesty to a more diverse crowd, and these lavish resorts are an undoubted highlight, often used as launchpads for exploring the lake. With a perimeter of 106 miles, it’s little surprise that dozens of charming towns and villages await, from cobbled alleyways leading up into the hills to colourful lakeside warrens. Here’s a look at some of the prettiest towns in Lake Como. These traditional villages are best explored via car, so you can delve in and out of these spots as you please.
A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller.
