307 Lake Como

Hi Sybil

Lakes Como and Garda are excellent, so relaxing. But don't forget Maggiore. It's really difficult to say which one I preferred, but on balance I would go with Lake Garda. It's not far from Venice or Verona and it also doesn't take long to get up into the breathtaking Dolomites.

Regards

Hi Sybil,

If you're visiting the lakes then please don't forget Lago d'Iseo - surrounded by mountains, has three Islands - one reportedly owned by Sophia Loren or Gina Lollobrigida (whichever is flavour of the month!) and some wonderful villages with loads of character.

To me it's possibly the most beautiful place ever, but I would say that wouldn't I, as my parents are both from Pisogne - a fishing village to the north of the lake (with an unusually large new shopping centre on the outskirts).

If you've nothing better to do, I can thoroughly recommend a trip to Pisogne, buying a drink or ice-cream from one of the bars along the lake front and watching the world slowly drift by, accompanied by the sound of the bells from the clock tower in the piaza and the occasional ringing of the level crossing as another train rumbles by.

Wish I was there again.......

[QUOTE=sybil preston]Hi, my first time on the forum. Like most people I love everything Italian - well nearly everything. My main interest at the moment are the Italian Lakes around Lake Como and Garda. I am from Belfast and unfortunately there are no direct flights to Milan. I will be asking questions later. :)[/QUOTE]
Sybil
Not sure if you can fly from Belfast to Roma but would have thought so. If you can do consider the Lakes further south such as Bolsena,Vico, Bracciano

My husband and I will be spending a week in Bellagio in Sept. Would love to hear about your favorite restaurants,cafes, etc. Thank you.

Christine and I are off to Lake Maggiore tomorrow, we'll be sure to visit Lake Como too.
We've been 4 times to Lake Garda, it's a wonderful part of the world.

[QUOTE=sybil preston]My main interest at the moment are the Italian Lakes around Lake Como and Garda.[/QUOTE]
Well, I can't blame you !

[QUOTE=Peter Head]on balance I would go with Lake Garda[/QUOTE]
And so he should ;)

[QUOTE=Brama Sole]We've been 4 times to Lake Garda, it's a wonderful part of the world[/QUOTE]
:)

If you can find a flight to Bergamo you've got lakes all around you (except to the South ... purtroppoooo) and as nearly everyone agrees, Garda is the best!
If you fly via Stanstead you can get to Verona/Brescia airport (Gabriele d'Annunzio) at Montichiari*, 20 minutes away from a capuccino on Desenzano lakefront.

*Have all Italian airports got 3 or 4 different names ?

I visited Lago di como,cerca tre anni fa, and stayed at the Hotel Argergno, in Argegno. I was there for about 4-5 days and became friendly with the guy who owned the said hotel with his older brother.They were amazing so friendly and informative, and helpful, as it was February when i visited and there had been snow a few days before which had been ploughed onto the side of the road in some areas.It was cold and not that colourful, unlike the photos that are usually seen of this area as they host many tv shots here for cars. Is well worth a visit Brendon.

[QUOTE=Doreen]My husband and I will be spending a week in Bellagio in Sept. Would love to hear about your favorite restaurants,cafes, etc. Thank you.[/QUOTE]

My wife and I + Border Collie dog spent 2 weeks in Bellagio in May this year. We rented an apartment on one of the little streets ascending from the lake front. Hotel du Lac very nice for an evening prosecco. Eat under the wisteria at the Hotel Florence on the lake front. Walk to a little fishing village on the other side of the peninsular whose name I forget where there is a very nice restaurant overlooking the Lecco arm of the lake. If you are feeling very rich go to the Grand Hotel Serbelloni for lunch. Very expensive but wonderful ambiance and good food. We drove / took the ferry to Varenna and Menaggio and ate well also.

I'm now broke!!!