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Local Area

Roveglio Farm
 

Roveglio (Bramble Farm) is an organic hillside family-run farm producing olive oil and cheese from goats and cows, a few of which are kept on the farm and others (in summer) in the high pastures. Haymaking on the steep hillside involves Antonella cutting grass by hand with a scythe, but mainly Paolo with his strimmer.

  • Relax on the terrace, sunbathe on the loungers in the meadow garden – or make use of the barbecue.

  • Ask Antonella to show you the dairy and how she makes cheese.

  • Explore the farm with the chickens, rabbits and sometimes goats, as well as the olive terraces.

  

Attractions and activities in Lenno
 

  • Lenno Market: every Tuesday morning from 8.30AM until 1PM locals and tourists alike come to do their shopping. It is both great fun and offers plenty of local cheese, salami and prosciutto and honey as well as fresh fruit and vegetables, clothes, bags, kitchenware …... 

  • Villa Balbienello: you can walk to this villa set in beautiful gardens on the peninsula or take a boat. 

  • Madonna del Soccorso and chapels: the UNESCO World Heritage Site is a 17th century pilgrimage route. Fourteen large chapels with life-sized tableau lead to the church at the top (with bar/restaurant to rear - closed on Tuesdays).

  • Walks: Lenno is halfway along the Greenway, a well marked & sign-posted walk along old cobbled paths that connect the lakeside and uphill settlements.  The Three Monasteries Walk starts at the Acquafredda Abbey just below Roveglio, leading uphill to the San Benedetto Herimitage and back down the other side of the Valley to Madonna del Soccorso.

  • Bathing and Boats: In addition to the private Lido di Lenno, there is a public beach (beyond the Lido) and the Lido Di Venere(free with bar which will rent loungers) near the ferry. The Lido di Lenno also rents small motor boats, while in nearby Ossucio you can rent Kayaks.

 

Lenno
 

Food: There are two supermarkets: Dino market and Sigma. Both are on the left driving from the centre of Lenno towards Como.

Pharmacy/banks: The pharmacy and the San Paolo bank (with cash machine) on the right as you drive towards Como.  There is another cash machine further along on the right near the Pizzeria. 

Petrol: Tamoil is also on the right, opposite Sigma supermarket. It closes over lunchtime.

Tourist information: At the Lenno ferry station and in the main square next to the church in Menaggio.
 

Transport

  • Ferries: the landing stage for passenger ferries is between the Hotel Giorgio and the Albergo Lenno. Car ferries to Bellagio go from Cadenabbia and to Varenna from Menaggio.

  • Bus: The C10 operates a regular service along the west lake side. Tickets are bought in newspaper shops.
     

Restaurants

  • Albergo Plinio by the lake is a comfortable family restaurant with great food – it’s a good idea to book (0344-55158).

  • Santo Stefano opposite the church is a little more refined (0344-55434).

  • Bar Golf with a terrace near the lake serves food from morning until night, including cocktails and good pizza.

  • Albergo Lenno and the Hotel San Giorgio, the Pizzeria near the supermarket and the Osteria opposite the post office, as well as Pizza Il Cris near the cemetery (lots of Mussolini memorabilia). 

  • Lido di Lenno is a beach, a bar and a restaurant. Lido di Venere is a bar with simple food.

Activities around Lake Como

 

Depending on your interests, there’s a lot of choice ...

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Explore the towns, villages and villas around the lake

  • Take a ferry to explore some of the picturesque small towns around Lake Como. The best-known ones are Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio – but there are so many others.

  • Isola Comacina is the only island on the lake – you can walk all round it and visit it's numerous archaeological sites.  It has a great restaurant too but you’d better be hungry.

  • Visit some of the magnificent villas and gardens. Villa Balbienello in Lenno is on your doorstep but Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo combines a stunning art and sculpture collection with a sense of aristocratic life in the 19th century, set in beautiful gardens. Villa Melzi in Bellagio also has lovely gardens.

  • Something different – the collection of nativity scenes (Casa dei Presepi) on display in the old farmhouse in Mezzegra near the church (on the Greenway walk).

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Venture further afield

  • Visit Como with its magnificent cathedral, walls and towers, history museum and art gallery, surrounded by wooded hills. And plenty of shops. To eat? Il Solito Posto.

  • Take the train to Milan, the hub of northern Italy, home to La Scala and two great football teams – and a cathedral where you can walk on its marble roof.

  • This historic hill city of Bergamo is 90 minutes away.

  • Go into Switzerland – either the town of Lugano on Lake Lugano or drive through Chiasso to Capolago and take the funicular train up to the top of Monte Generoso.

 

Put on your walking shoes

There are numerous walks – walking from one town to another, or walking up to the peaks of the mountains that ring the lake. Or you can take advantages of the funiculars and roads to get at least half way up and then walk along the ridges.  The Cottage has a file with descriptions of many walks and maps.

 

Get wet

Personally during the summer months barely a day goes by when I don’t swim or paddle.  The fresh water of the lake is like silk.  There are a number of lidos (private swimming areas), some have pools, all have loungers, bars or restaurants. In addition to Lenno, check out Menaggio, Cadenabbia, Bellagio or Argegno. Or if you just want a quick swim, use the free public beaches to get into the lake. 

Boating and kayaking are great fun – secret tip? At the north end of the lake, just before Colico, is a little lake called the Lago di Piano, a nature reserve. Rent kayaks there and explore the whole lake.

 

Enjoy the Italian Food (these are some of our favourites)​

  • Alle Darsene di Loppia, Bellagio (through Melzi Gardens) (tel. 031-952069, www.ristorantedarsenediloppia.com) closed Mondays, Elegant, imaginative and delicious..

  • Hotel Suisse, in Bellagio, opposite the passenger ferry (tel. 031-951755, www.hotelsuissebelaggio.com.)

  • Locanda la Tirlindana in the little square in Sala Comacina by the jetty for visits to Isola Comacina (0344-56637, www.ristorantetirlindana.com) try the lemon ravioli

  • Da Paolo in Hotel Garni Corona Menaggio (0344-32133) and the pizza at the Trattoria Constantin

  • Il Fagiono, Tosnacco (uphill from Moltrasio, a bit of a drive but this is where the locals go) 031-290000 www.trattoriadelfagiano.it

  • Antica Trattoria del Risorgimento, follow signs past the wonderful breadshop into a cobbled lane and up to the first floor of an old palace. A limited menu of very freshly prepared local produce. Telephone: 0344-41789.

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