I can never forget my excitement about my trip to Como Lago, it was my first time with new friends in Milan. Como is a city at the southern tip of Lake Como in northern Italy and home to American actor – George Clooney and other celebrities like Donatella Versace and Madonna.
With a group of 12 friends, I took the Trenord train from Milano Centrale to Como Lago at a cost of fewer than 5 Euros. The trip that seemed to last forever in the crawling train lasted for about an hour.
On arrival, it seemed there was a mini street food festival on the lakeside. There were little food trucks, playing loud and funky music with moving statues and clowns adding more life to the frenzy. We successfully made our way through the crowded park to the wooden dock where we spent some time taking group photos in front of “Life Electric”- a newly built sculpture dedicated to the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta.
From the harbour front, we could view Como and its beautiful surroundings — the boats ready to sail, the colorful houses on the foothills of the mountains and the serene lake surface.
What you will find in this post
Como Lago Brunate by Funicular
From the funicular at the east end of the lakefront, we got in a packed cable car to Brunate, a quiet mountain village which overlooks the Como city and lake. The car was a bit stuffy, but once we stepped out of it, a beautiful wonderland welcomed us with fresh air. The enchanting villas, fragrant herbs, and flowers gave a pleasant aroma to the air.
Up the hills…
Chiesa di Sant’Andrea – the St. Andrew
Chiesa di Sant’Andrea – the St. Andrew Church looked new, probably it has been renovated recently. From what I learned about the church, it must contain a wealth of history and art. The church’s decorations dated back in the late 19th and early 20th century (due to sustained work), and the paintings of brothers Recchi inside were even created from the 17th century.
The Lighthouse
Our last trip was to the lighthouse. From its terrace, we could have a breathtaking panoramic view of Como.
The day trip was not enough to learn about the beauty of Brunate, or even Lake Como. The lake has the shape of an inverted letter “Y”. The northern branch begins at the town of Colico, while the towns of Como and Lecco sit at the ends of the southwestern and southeastern branches respectively.
Based on my experience, I would advise visiting when the weather is not foggy, like in September. This will allow you a clearer view of the panoramic landscape from the Lighthouse.
