Day Trips Around Lake Como, Italy

1. Autodromo Nazionale Monza

The Autodrome is known worldwide as the Temple of Speed and has been a historic motor racing track for international racing since 1922. The track is managed by the Motor Increment and Sports Company, which is affiliated with the Automobile Club of Italy and is found in Monza Park, which is owned by Milan and Monza municipalities.

Visitors to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza can take guided tours, take a ride with a professional driver on the track, take simulated rides, attend workshops, and get information on upcoming races and events. Three-day passes are available, and children under eleven are free on the circular lawn and reduced in the stands. Autodromo Nazionale Monza

2. Bergamo

Visitors to Bergamo can explore a masterpiece of art, culture, history, and music in a city known for medieval architecture and surrounded by beautiful hills. The city is also known for being the birthplace of Donizetti, one of the best composers of opera in the world, and his house can still be seen in Upper Bergamo, where his belongings are displayed at Museo Donizettiano. A city theater was also named after the composer who is buried at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica. Other great attractions in Bergamo include the walkways of Hills Park, which helps visitors traverse the lush landscapes and offer amazing views of the mountains and flatlands. Some of the most outstanding art in the world is displayed at Accademia Carrara Picture Gallery. There are also historic cathedrals, 18th-century palaces, and several other galleries and museums to explore. Bergamo Map

3. Borromean Islands

Lake Maggiore is home to the Borromean Islands, which were used for inspiration by Ernest Hemingway, famous royals, and visitors from all over the world who venture there for beautiful sites and culture. The islands are named after the Borromean family of Florentine, who owned the islands in the 1300s and built grand homes and elaborate gardens on the plots of land. One of the major attractions of the Borromean Islands is the Isola Bella, which features a 17th-century palazzo and the botanical gardens on Isola Madre, which features many rare floral species.

There are also many architectural wonders around the Borromean Islands such as the Rock of Marghera and the villas constructed by the 18th century noble families.

4. Castles of Bellinzona

Three castles make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Castles of Bellinzona. The castle, which was constructed in the 1200s to ward off the invading Swiss armies to the North; however, in 1513 the current canto of Ticino joined the confederation, and the castles were then used to defend against the Venetians. The largest castle is called Castelgrande and features an iconic black and white tower, a restaurant on-site and museum. Montebello also has a museum, and most visitors enjoy taking in the views from the walkable castle walls. Sasso Corbaro was built in the late 1400s to improve defense of the other two castles and sits at the highest elevation, offering the best views of the area.

In addition to the three Castles of Bellinzona, the Villa dei Cedri Museum is an art museum inside a 19th-century villa in a park nearby the castles. Visitors can see paintings, sculptures, and rotating temporary art exhibitions at the museum.

5. Crespi d'Adda

Crespi d'Adda is “The Workers’ Village” in Lombardy, and stands as a unique testament of industrial architecture. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was constructed from the late 1800s through the 1920s by the Crespi Family, who were industrialists in the area. The family built an entire town for their factor employee and their whole families who were given homes, space for gardens and provided all the available amenities of the time.

Employees of the Crespi family were completely taken care of by their employers, and the village includes a cotton mill, the Crespi family castle, church, cemetery, and washhouse. Spending a day in Crespi d'Adda is like spending a day back in time more than one hundred years ago. The site as it was built is still almost completely intact and is still used for some industrial purposes.

6. Lake Garda

The largest lake in Italy is Lake Garda, also known as Benaco. The picturesque lake is surrounded by morainic hills to the south and mountains to the north. The climate at the lake is mild Mediterranean and temperate. Many lemon and olive groves are around Lake Garda, as well an orange trees, oleander flowers, and majestic cypress trees. Lake Garda is also known for its beautiful turquoise waters that are nearly transparent. Some of the historic attractions around Lake Garda include Arco Castle, Bettoni Palace, Casa del Podesta, Callas Palace, along with many others. Civic Tower, several medieval villages, Comboni Missionary Center, botanical gardens, observatories, and several public parks.

7. Lake Lugano

Lake Lugano is the main city of the Swiss canton of Ticino, which is described as Switzerland with an Italian accent. The large town has a population of 140,000 when the metropolitan area is included and makes for a perfect day trip from almost anywhere in the Mediterranean since it sits on the border between Northern Italy and Switzerland. Most travelers journey to Lake Lugano for the high-end boutique shopping as well as outdoor recreation such as boating and hiking. The waterfront community features an old town that is surrounded by promenades and public parks. The southern shores of the lake are rich in fossils, especially Monte San Giorgio, where fossils from the mid-Triassic, or 220 million years ago, have been unearthed in large fossil deposits.

8. Lake Maggiore

The Lake Maggiore area is made up of four towns—Cannobio, Ghiffa, Cannero, and Oggebbio that each offer amazing views of the lakeshores on the Swiss and Lombard sides of the lake. Each of the cities has a unique history and offers attractions such as a Hat Museum in Ghiffa or the complex of the Baroque chapels on the hill overlooking the lake. Visitors can also see the Castles of Cannero ruins on the islands just offshore or drive down the lakeside road to see large mansion homes with elaborate gardens. The villages in the hills have retained their centuries-old ambiance while the Borromean Islands are a mecca of art and nature where visitors can explore art galleries and museums as well as participate in water sports and outdoor recreation. Lake Maggiore

9. Lake Orta

Nestled into the Piedmont region of the southern Swiss Alps is the small and picturesque Lake Orta. The lake is less commercialized than the larger lakes nearby and is quiet and peaceful. Most visitors spend their time on Lake Orta at the Orta San Giulio village or on the Isola San Giulio. Easy hiking is available in the hill surrounding the lake and visitors can soak up the Mediterranean sun on Miami Beach. At Orta San Giulio, visitors can walk cobblestone streets, grab a latte, or ice-cream at one of many shops in town. There is also a harbor in the main town square that offers boat rentals to Isola San Giulio. The island features a basilica from the 12th century where 15th-century frescoes still adorn the walls. There are also waterfront homes and paths that have easy walks through the lush vegetation on the island. Lake Orta

10. Lake Trasimeno

The Lake Trasimeno area is found in central Italy near Florence, Rome, Siena, Arezzo, and Assisi, which are some of the greatest cultural locations in the country. However, there are eight towns that are settled around the lakeshores and hilltops. The La Valle Oasis is open all year round and one of the most interesting natural attractions at Lake Trasimeno. Audio-guided hikes are available that take visitors over the wooden bridge to the observatory and bird ringing facility. Most visitors spend their day at Lake Trasimeno checking out the towns or surrounding islands that are home to ancient castles, cathedrals, and monasteries. Lake Trasimeno