Vacation rentals in Bellagio

Its name resonates throughout the world, but there’s only one original Bellagio. Located in Italy’s Lombardy region on the Larian Triangle — the tip of Lake Como’s inverted Y shape — the town is the meeting point of the Como and Lecco sides of the lake, earning it the nickname the Pearl of Lake Como. Its geographical splendor is best seen from La Punta Spartivento, the park down Via Eugenio Vitalia right at the convergence point. Yet the town’s laid-back charm comes from the lively harborfront and the winding, often steep cobblestone streets that form a maze of delightful cafes and boutiques in their wake. Add to that the town’s opulent villas and elegant gardens, and there’s no better place to experience la bella vita.

If you really want to feel the heat in Bellagio, July and August are the warmest months, with June close behind. The town leaps into action in the summer with events such as the Bellagio Festival with orchestral, jazz, and chamber music performances, and the Sagra di Bellagio to celebrate the festival of San Giovanni. But along with the temperatures comes humidity that can feel slightly oppressive. May and June, as well as September and October, have become popular times to visit since the weather tends to be pleasant. The spring months bring the area’s famous flowers into bloom, but can also be accompanied by rainy days. Winters can be chilly, with lows dipping below freezing and snow capping the mountaintops, but it’s also the calmest time of year to visit.

I Giardini di Villa Melzi

Built as the residence of Francesco Melzi d’Eril in the early 19th century, the elegance of the villa’s neoclassical design is enhanced by the extravagance of its artwork and furnishings from some of the era’s greatest artists. Equally impressive are the surrounding English-style gardens with bamboo, cedar, and oak, as well as hedges of century-old camellias.

Pescallo

While Bellagio offers the big name waterfront appeal, the historic fishing hamlet of Pescallo provides a quieter version, just on the other side of the promontory. The views from the smaller harbor are just as spell-binding, and this is also a popular starting point for Lake Como’s water activities. The walk between Pescallo and the main town of Bellagio through the narrow alleyways adds to the adventure.

Museum of Navigation Instruments

In the adjacent little town of San Giovanni, this offbeat museum is located in an ancient tower and houses a collection of more than 200 items and tools― sundials, compasses, a brass planetarium, and even 18th-century telescopes from Venice―that have guided all sorts of maritime discoveries.