Lake Como Diary
June…Fireworks on the lake.
San Giovanni festival June 20th on the island, get here before 6pm to enjoy the best light display lit up by the lake, magical.
Happy hour at Villa Balbianello, Lenno. Book your ticket each Wednesday. The fairytale villa left 007 shaken and stirred here in the 2006 Casino Royale.
Dish of the month..spring summer risotto where the flavours leap of the plate.
Top Tip…Hire a boat and chilled bottle of prosecco from the lido di lenno for the most memorable day you will ever have on Como.
July..Lake’s Heaven.
Tip..kick off your heels, roll back the years and boogie the night away at Lido di Lenno late night cocktail beech bar.
Art classes held in Lenno, relax and enjoy a Jerry Fresia masterclass (ask for details. Wine tasting available mid week, organised trips by reservation in Tremezzo. Guest vinyards showcase their wines of a friday in Argegno (please contact us for details)
Dish of the month..Lake fish “lavarello” with fried sage and butter, simple home cooking at it’s best.
Tip..take the boat to Varenna and dine at Vecchia Varenna next to the lake.
August…A Thunderous welcome awaits you.
Firework displays’s reach their conclusion with festivals usually held in Argegno, Lenno and Mennagio at this time.
Visit Villa Melzi in Bellagio for a romantic day long retreat(avoid weekends and beat the queues!)
Relax on your balcony with a glass of wine or gelato before the heat of the day gives way to the (sometimes) thunderstorms. Likened by many holidaymakers to inviting a private orchestra into their living room!
Dish of the month…Black squid ink fettucine with chargrilled scallops and a chlled lugana white wine (tastes best with lake view)
Top Tip..make a lakeside resturant reservation (see restaurant guide) and let the melodrama of the unique lakeside firework extravaganza unfold.
“Liam discover his new Oasis by the Lake”
David Beckham borrows George Clooney’s mansion ‘to unwind’ from stress of Milan move
September…Truffles? I’ll race you for them!
Lake Como barchetta boat races held on a sunday reach their conclusion.
Truffle season begins in earnest. Taste them with scrambled eggs, poached eggs, risotto or linguine. Divine.
Dish of the month..Tartufo (look it up!)
Fashion officiados head straight for the Milan fashion show.
October..Puccini or Porchini?
Visit La Scala in Milan for the latest opera or tuck in to the magical mushrooms that our Porchini, if you have ever tried them at home, try them in Italy and taste the difference.
Dish of the month…Home made ravioli with pumpkin and amaretto.
Tip..weather till late October can still be sunny hear on the lake visit www.menaggio.com for the latest forecast.
For opera visit http://www.teatroallascala.org/
X Factor Judges Choose Finalists
“Lake Como has that X Factor”
Louis Walsh, Ronan Keating and a host of pop wannabees headed for Richard Branson’s Lenno retreat here on Lake Como to indulge in a little dolce vita. Fortunately for the locals, Villa Casinella (www.villacasinella.com) which can only be accessed by
boat or helicopter, is remote enough to avoid any off key notes breaking any neigbhouring lakeside villa windows!
November…The Fall of Como.
Given the microclimate bestowed upon the lake autumn can happen as late as early november here. Romantic lake side, leaf strewn walks around Cernobbio on a sunday, nipping into coffee bars and mountain walks in the Val D’intelvi are perennial favourites for returning visitors.
Enjoy the smell of the roaring wood burning fires as you amble through the narrow cobbled lanes in and around the lake.
Dish of the month.. Wild boar stew accompanied by a warming Valtelina red wine.
Tip..Visit www.ticketone.it and catch up with an array of stars that visit Lombardia from Sting to U2
December…Como is for life not just for Christmas.
Christmas markets, lights and ice skating next to the lake here in the city of Como. A pre Christmas trip for last minute shopping, peruse the high fashion houses of Milan or at the Fox Town outlet close to near by Lake Lugano.
New Year firework’s and skiing in Madesimo are two of the winter highlights here on the lake.
Dish of the month..Goose, Game and an all day (read week!) italian feast.
Push the boat out and accompany this festive treat with a bottle of Tuscan Tignanello.
Tip..Keep you fingers crossed for a white Christmas in 2009. Como has seen snow
for 3 out of the last 4 years with boxing day 2008 filled with snow.
Will the snow fall 24 hours earlier this year?
