Villa Olmo
Como
Come discover Lake Como
Lake Como, also called the Lario, is among Italy's most famous lakes and the deepest. At the centre of the Alpine arena, it has long been loved by visitors from the north who see a glimpse of the Mediterranean among the mountains. City travellers find peace and quiet. The lake has three branches in an inverted Y shape and a landscape of endless shades: blue-green waters, rocky or wooded ridges, stone villages between waterfront and mountains, ancient villas and historic villages. From Villa Galli in Caslino d'Erba you are ideally placed to explore it.
The Lario
Light, a mild climate, rich vegetation and splendid scenery, together with history and cultural events, make Lake Como a unique destination for relax, sport, fun and food. After excursions, at Villa Galli you return to pool, garden and hilltop quiet.
Sport and nature
Lake Como is ideal for sports lovers. Trekking, Nordic walking and bike routes run along hills and shores — and in the evening you return to Caslino d'Erba, away from lakefront traffic.
Golf
Villa Galli is close to several golf clubs set in green oases and gentle hills. Lario courses suit both experts and beginners.
- Golf Villa d’Este — historic and renowned
- Carimate & Monticello — hosts of international championships
- Menaggio & Cadenabbia — century-old and scenic
- Lanzo — set in a chestnut and beech wood
- Lecco e La Pinetina — picturesque and technically demanding
For golf guests, Villa Galli is a quiet, convenient base: play by day, rest in the hills at night.
Excursions and visits
One of the world's most beautiful lakes and the famous silk city offer endless ideas. Location variety, leisure options and proximity to Malpensa, Milan and Switzerland make this area unique. Como is an ancient Roman city where history, art and culture meet industry and commerce. Do not miss the Duomo, Romanesque churches, Rationalist monuments and elegant Villa Olmo.
For museums: the Archaeological Museum, the civic art gallery, the Silk Museum, the Tempio Voltiano and the Cycling Museum. Como is also famous for silk — a destination for design shopping.
Como is the starting point for boat trips. On one of the world's most famous lakes, a boat ride is a must: aristocratic villas on the water, monuments set in lush gardens, including beautiful Villa Carlotta and its botanical park.
Historic noble residences
Among many noble homes — now museums, hotels or exceptional residences — we recommend:
Villa Melzi
Bellagio
Villa Carlotta
Tremezzo
Villa del Balbianello
Lenno
Villa Mylius Vigoni
Menaggio
Villa Cipressi & Villa Monastero
Varenna
Around Como you can enjoy local food in farmhouses and crotti, traditional Lario taverns cut into rock — from “polenta uncia” to “missoltino”.
Culture and events
Como is a cultural city: Pliny the Elder and Alessandro Volta lived here; Manzoni and Stendhal wrote about it. Tradition lives in museums and monuments, but culture is also of today: international exhibitions at Villa Olmo; congresses and concerts at Villa Erba; music, dance and theatre at the Teatro Sociale.