The Villas of Lake Como

By Katherine Kingston

I recently had a chance to revisit one of my favorite places in the entire world, northern Italy and Lake Como. It’s no accident that I set my Naughty Escapes story, The Lake by Moonlight, there. It may well be one of the most beautiful places in the world. I’m certainly not alone in that belief. 

Plenty of tourists think so as well and flock to the area. Many denizens of southern Italy, those who can afford it, also retreat to this part of the country for cooler temperatures and water sports on the lake.

And many of the world’s rich and famous retreat here as well. The shores of the lake are lined with magnificent villas, fabulous hotels, and incredible resorts. Best known of the celebrities who have villas here at the moment are George and Amal Clooney. In fact they were in residence while we were there, though we didn’t happen to run into them.

Even for the not-so-rich and not-so-famous, Lake Como is a magical place. The lake is one of the deepest in Europe and rich in fish, which means good eating at the local restaurants. Other than the city of Como, most of the towns on its shores are small, charming, and geared for tourists. Since it’s surrounded by mountains, there are plenty of rugged hiking trails as well as easy walks for the less adventurous. In addition to the gorgeous villas, there are medieval towers and fortresses, fabulous gardens and parks, wonderful shops full of silks, glassware, and fine leather, and lots of old churches, monasteries, and villas full of art, all waiting for exploration.

We spent just a few days, but I could’ve happily stayed much longer.