Lake Como: Varenna and Villa Monastero

I've been wanting to visit Lake Como ever since I arrived in Italy, and I finally seized an opportunity earlier this week to make a quick day trip. It was well worth it, despite the somewhat gloomy weather. It's been raining for a week straight all over northern Italy - I'm told that's typical weather well into December. Ugh.

The best way to reach Como from Milan is by train; tickets are anywhere from 4 to 10 euros, depending on a few factors like whether you take a slower train or a high speed train, or which station you come into. It can be a bit difficult and confusing trying to decide exactly where on the lake you want to arrive, but it's very easy to catch a ferry from one little town to the next, so your arrival station shouldn't inhibit your exploration. I initially planned to arrive at San Giovanni in the town of Bellagio, but decided against it after further research. Bellagio is the most commonly visited town on Como and from what I've read, the most touristy. I wanted something a bit more rustic, so I headed for Varenna, a tiny village just north on the lake from Bellagio.

My ticket to Varenna was 13 Euros roundtrip - not bad at all, considering I paid more than double that for a one-way to Vienna. Then again, my train to Como was slower and far less comfortable, so you get what you pay for. I'm sure the scenery on the ride up to Como was beautiful, but I wasn't able to enjoy it, as everything was blanketed in a thick layer of fog. Fortunately, it disappeared as the day went on and I was rewarded with some really exquisite scenery.

Varenna is a miniscule village on the lake and easily walkable in less than an hour. There isn't much to see in terms of attractions, but the view more than makes up for that. You could simply spend a day here admiring the mountains over a plate of bruschetta and a glass of wine at one of the lakeshore restaurants. In fact, that very scenario was proposed to me by none other than Lake Como's favorite resident, George Clooney. Wine with Clooney was certainly tempting, but I had other plans, and I politely told him so.* I had limited time in Varenna and wanted to make sure I visited Villa Monastero and Castello di Vezio. So, after a bit of wandering around the picturesque town, I made my way to Villa Monastero.

Villa Monastero is a late nineteenth century villa on the lake that has since been turned into a house museum. Much to my disappointment, the actual mansion was closed on the day of my visit for wedding preparations, so I was only able to walk through the gardens.

Unusual plants, beautiful flowers, and crumbling statues line a gently curving path that takes you down to the lake. It's really a lovely little area; very quiet and peaceful. Then again, all of Varenna feels that way, especially after living in Milan. I can definitely see why the Lake Como area is so popular for weddings and vacation homes. You can't put a price on beauty or relaxation!

Villa Monastero was lovely, but I don't think it's enough to lure me back specifically to Varenna. I would love to explore some of the other towns lining Lake Como - I'm sure they're equally as charming and beautiful. Good thing it's only a train ride away! It's also a good thing that my first few hours in Varenna were so relaxing, because what happened next was considerably less serene...

*Just to be clear, I did not see George Clooney.