Sunday, June 13, 2010

Picturesque Varenna on Lake Como

Today, please join us on a walk through Varenna, Italy, a small town on the eastern shore of Lake Como. This old church is typical of the weathered patina of the buildings in the town.
Varenna has a picturesque waterfront and harbor, with narrow pedestrian walkways that lead from the lake up into the town. There is frequent ferry service that connect Varenna with Bellagio, Mennagio, and other towns on the other side of Lake Como.
There are lots of architectural details that add charm to the nooks and crannies of the town. This coat of arms was on a wall by a little cafe.
The sun highlights the colors of the buildings and walkways. Varenna is the location of the Moto Guzzi Motorcycle factory, and it is a popular place for cyclists to ride up from Milan to enjoy a day in the beauty of the Lake Como area.
This is the main part of the harbor and town of Varenna, with the cathedral tower looming above the town. Lake Como is a narrow, glacier-carved lake, with towering mountains on each side and the snow-capped Alps in the distance. The lake is lined with villas and charming towns such as Varenna.
This is typical of the narrow walkways that form most of the streets of Varenna. My husband and I took a group of 13 family and friends on a visit to Bellagio and Milan, Italy. We enjoyed a cooking lesson at a restaurant in Varenna, and returned to Varenna on another day to explore the town, tour Villa Monastero, and enjoy a walk along the lake.
Every turn of a walkway reveals additional, delightful details from centuries ago.
After a walk around town and along the lake, what could be better than to enjoy a gelato at a sidewalk cafe overlooking the harbor.

13 comments:

brattcat said...

These are wonderful. You really take us on a walk (and boat ride) through this beautiful village. It feels timeless here, at least to the visitor. As if you could walk back through the centuries as you walk along the narrow ways.

Sharon said...

These are gorgeous shots! I must admit, they are even more stunning on the big screen like I saw at your house last night. Thanks again, it was a wonderful evening.

Ineke said...

these photo's could be in any tourist guide for Varenna. Beautiful!

Unknown said...

What a fantastic place! Gorgeous italian colours and photos!

chalupczok said...

Beautiful pictures...Beautiful...
Marcin.

becky said...

wow... amazingly beautiful...

Diederick Wijmans said...

Beautiful photos and I am sure you enjoyed yourself. I only hope you had better weather than we have in these last days!
You could have let me know that you were coming to Lake Maggiore! I would have been pleased to meet you: I live at 15 minutes away from Stresa and the Borromeo Islands...! Next time better!

Rob Siemann said...

Memories... This is one of my favorite places in Europe

glenda said...

Beautiful photos, It seems like we were just there. We have a lot of great memories from Varenn: strolling the water walkway, gelato, cooking school, fabulous lunch and the beautiful views and gardens.

Gunn said...

This made me want to go to Italy JUST NOW!
Thanks for sharing (also) these beautiful shots.

BlossomFlowerGirl said...

Thank you so much for posting these, the whole area looks delightful. I love the warm colours and can easily imagine myself sitting at the water's edge after a day of exploring. They remind me of the film "A Month By The Lake" which was set very near here.
Cheers,
Melbourne Daily Photo

Cobalt Violet said...

I love Varenna!!!! I stayed there for a week and was at the little place in the bottom photo almost every day have wine or cappuchino or those huge desserts!

Fantastic photos of a beautiful place!

Unknown said...

Varenna is my favorite place in all Italy. Viewing your photos however was like seeing it again for the first time. Thank you!

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