Bellagio : The pearl of Lake Como
With my hair askew, I drowsily walked towards the Milan Garibaldi station to hop on the train to Como. As I settled into my seat, I performed my customary check – passport ✔ Eurail pass ✔ wallet ✔ earphones ✔ camera ✔ backpack ✔ and a few moments later I could see the station whizzing past me as the train gathered speed – onboard to Como!
A few years back, a good friend of mine had literally sold to me the idea of retiring to Bellagio – a quaint, picturesque town by the Lake Como and that’s how it made it to my list of places that I want to visit.
Bellagio
With cobbled streets, the inverted Y shaped Lake Como surrounded by Alps, splendid villas with their sprawling manicured gardens and the lakeside restaurants serving the catch of the day, one cannot ask for a more perfect setting. I believe it’s this beauty that inspired a construction of a luxury hotel in USA. No prizes for guessing the name of that hotel – Bellagio, Las Vegas.
Exploring Bellagio
The best way to explore this town is on foot. The Basilica de San Giocomo, a 12th century church with its stunning mosaics adds to the town’s charm.
The Melzi garden is definitely worth a visit, tickets for which can be bought at the entrance. The Villa though is not open to the public.
How to reach Bellagio from Milan
Take a train from Milan Garibaldi station to Como. From Como, board the bus no. C30 (right outside the station) and you will be on your way to Bellagio. The train and the bus journey will take an hour each.
Sincera Tip
- An ideal day trip from Milan, Bellagio is not hidden from tourists and hence I would highly recommend starting early.
- On the hour long bus ride from the Como station to Bellagio, do sit on the left side of the bus for some amazing views.
- Amble around aimlessly in the streets and enjoy a glass of wine with some fresh seafood by one of the lake-side restaurants!
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