Lake Como and the hunt for George Clooney

View of estates lining Lake Como

Lake Como sits just about an hour by train from Milan and it is a perfect day trip when you need a little sun, some cool waters and a taste of the good life. We caught an early morning train to Varenna, the launching point for vacationers going to Bellagio and other fancy cities ringing the lake. An all day ticket is 15 Eruos and let’s you hop on and off the ferries…to your eating and shopping delight. We took a quick walk in the heart of Bellagio before heading off for Lenno, the location of Villa del Balbianello and the site of the filming of Casino Royale. The villa is perched high on the edge of the lake and filled with a cornucopia of stuff from Guido Manzoni, a rich Italian play boy who explored the world in the 1970s and was an avid collector of maps. He even accomplished a trip to the North Pole and his sled is kept in the attic space of the villa.

The weather was perfect for sitting at a cafe and sipping spritz aperol as we watched boats sail past in the lake. Although it was a Saturday, the crowds were small and we enjoyed passing the day next to the water. Tim even took a chance to take off his shoes and dip his feet into the cold lake water. Alas, we didn’t spot George Clooney but we do understand how easy it is to fall in love with Lake Como.