Lake Como is shaped like an upside down Y and Bellagio sits in the "crotch" between the two outstretched legs of the lake. Bellagio is often called "The Pearl of the Lake" and has been chosen as a residence by authors, artists and poets since ancient times. The original town was located back from the water on the slopes of the mountain with narrow streets leading down to the waterfront.
Bellagio is where the rich and famous go when they holiday at Lake Como and this becomes obvious as soon as we step off the Ferry and see all the high end shops and 5 star hotels stretched out before us on the waterfront. We headed for the tourist info center and picked up a walking tour brochure and spent the next couple of hours exploring this delightful town. Rita and I really liked the feel of Bellagio and could certainly understand why it's such a popular destination. After I had a local beer and Rita a sparkling water at a waterfront cafe, we walked onto the Ferry and headed for Menaggio, 20 minutes away on the east side of the lake. Menaggio has been an important hub since Roman times as it was a strategic point on the East/West trade route. In fact, it still is today as we will have to take a car ferry from Varenna to Menaggio for us to get back to Germany.
After exploring Varenna and Belaggio we were a bit dissapointed in Menaggio as it did not seem to have that much to see other than its waterfront piazza filled with sidewalk cafes. The historic district is quite plain and not many tourists take the time to climb the steep and narrow streets to explore the area. After touring around we stopped for a gelato in the main piazza before taking the Ferry back to Varenna and home.
Rita reading up on the Lake Como Ferry timetable as we head out to Belaggio from Varenna
The waterfront of Belaggio and one of the Lake Como passenger Ferries
The drapes come down in Belaggio to keep the clients and the shops cool during the midday heat
One of the many steep and narrow streets in Belaggio
The waterfront district of Menaggio from the Lake Como Ferry
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