I had never put Lake Como first on my list of things to do on a trip to Italy, but my job as a fashion photographer brought me there. I stayed in Como for only one day, even though I did not visit properly I did some nice discoveries that I will talk about in this article.
Some information on Lake Como
Located in Lombardy, Lake Como is in the heart of the Italian Alps. It is only an hour from Milan and very close to the Swiss border not far from other large lakes such as Lugano and Lake Maggiore. This lake has three branches: Como is on the southwest branch, Lecco on the southeastern branch and Colica on the north branch. There are several references to Lake Como in literature and poetry, but it is also known through scenes shot for cinema (Star Wars and 007). Its area is 145 m2, 45 km long and 4.5 wide, it is long but its turn can be done in a day.
When is the best time to visit Lake Como?
Lake Como is very steep, its geographical location makes it suitable for the fog that can be very present in winter. In summer, the lake is popular with wealthy Italians who come to rest in their villa or their holiday home, the attendance of Lake Como is then at its maximum. The best time to visit this beautiful Italian lake is autumn or spring. At this time of the year, you will be neither too hot nor too cold and you can walk around the lake without much difficulty.
Sail on Lake Como with a Riva boat
I came to Como to shoot the new collection of Amedee 1851, a brand of scarves and luxury scarves. The main idea was to take pictures of a couple on a Riva, a beautiful boat whose stars are crazy. That day, we had a driver especially for us, he could take us anywhere on the lake. You should know that the creator of the Riva, Carlo Riva, had the favors of the princely couple Rainier III and Grace Kelly, which allowed him to install a gallery where he stocked more than two hundred rivals. This boat is synonymous with luxury and prestige, our driver has even entrusted us to lead several stars to their social evenings such as Jennifer Aniston and George Clooney. The Riva is a mahogany boat painted with 12 layers. That’s why the light is reflected so much on the bow. The interior of the boat all leather is very comfortable
Villa Balbianello, filming location of Star Wars and 007
We could not visit the villa Balbianello but we passed by boat. This villa was built in the 17th century in Lenno on a peninsula in the middle of Lake Como. It can be accessed only by boat. Its Renaissance-style fits perfectly into the romantic setting, from its gardens one can see the Italian Alps stretching out into the distance. This is where the scene of the marriage between Padmé and Anakin was shot in episode II, the attack of the clones of Star Wars and one of the scenes of Casino Royal 007. It is possible to reach the villa by land or river. If you want to see another villa worth seeing, I recommend the Villa Carlotta which gathers a collection of works of art.
There are so many other places to discover around Lake Como that I will have to come back on my own to take the necessary time. I also recommend the more detailed Royal Chill article on Lake Como, where she tells of her four days there. In the meantime, I leave you with some bonus photos to dream a little of this mythical lake in Italy.
