Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Varenno Italy -- Sunday October 7

Varenno Sunday October 7























We woke up early and decided to travel the lake via ferries.  Starting in Varenno, we first went to Bellagio, and then to Maggioro.  Most of time was spent walking through the markets in Bellagio.  We wandered the day away, stopping to have lunch on a roof garden restaurant.  Wine, raviolis, and a antipasto plate made up our lunch.

The setting is magnificent and the food wonderful.  We are within “walking” distance of Switzerland when in Maggiore – maybe more like hiking but we are right on the border.  You can see many Swiss/German influences in the shops and the food. 

Lake Como (Lago di Como) is in a region of Italy known as Lombardy and is the third largest lake in Italy.  It is also one of the deepest (1,300 ft.) and the bottom of the lake is 660 feet below sea level.  The lake is formed by glaciers that have melted so it is clear and cold. This area has been a popular retreat for aristocrats and wealthy people since the Roman times.

The homes and shops are all along the lake and are on as many as four different levels that have been terraced so the pictures shown reflect the use all potential levels.  The streets are very narrow and as you go up the mountain there are more little villages.  Space is at a premium so to get parking or car storage you must tear down something.  If you want to utilize all levels, you put in an elevator.

It was a magical day on the lake and the surrounding communities and everywhere you look you had an amazing view.

We finished the day with pizza at a restaurant back in Varenno, that Bill had been eyeing since we arrived.  He thought it looked like Pizza that was made in Penn Hills where he grew up.  He had a conversation with pizza shop owner and proclaimed that this was his “long lost” pizza taste he had not had since he had bought it from Della Salla's.  We took some pictures and ended the evening with our hike up the mountain to our room.  We did manage to stop by the bar in the hotel and get a night cap to take with us.

Tomorrow we go to Florence.

Ciao!!!

Susan and Bill



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