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(+39) 349 560 0603
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A full day tour to discover the “pearls” of the mid-lake area: a perfect combination of local produce tasting, walking in Varenna, enjoying an amazing private cruise, visiting the botanical gardens of Villa Balbianello and of Villa Melzi in Bellagio.
This itinerary can be further personalised for a fully made-to-measure experience and a different pick-up point can be agreed upon according to your needs!
The tour starts with a trip to a fascinating original mill on the hills above Varenna where you will be offered a tasting of the world famous locally produced olive oil, typical Valsassina cheese, cold cuts and wine. You will then enjoy a guided walking tour of Varenna with its Celtic origins and steep alleys.
Lunch will be booked for you in Varenna at a restaurant of your choice. Of course we will provide our best suggestions.
In the afternoon, an amazing private Venetian watertaxi cruise will give you the chance to admire the spectacular mountains and the stunning villas, once the homes of aristocrats, now the playgrounds for the jet set.
You will disembark at Villa del Balbianello, a real gem not to be missed, stunning shooting location for a number of famous films such as “Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones” and “Casino Royale”. Take some time to take pictures in its panoramic gardens.
Afterwards, our motorboat will bring you to Bellagio, where you shall be guided through the wonderful Villa Melzi gardens, followed by a stroll along the lakeside.
The tour will end at approximately 5:00 pm in this world-renowned village, where you are highly recommended to stop for a romantic happy hour or dinner. Our tour guide will suggest the best restaurants in the area.
Varenna is easily reachable from all the main cities on and around Lake Como with train, ferry or car. The meeting and end point are reasonably close and well connected to public transport.
If you are arriving from Como, Cernobbio or Moltrasio we recommend to take the 9:00 am hydrofoil from Como (stopping also in Moltrasio) and disembark in Bellano at 10:04. If this is the case please inform us at least one day before the tour, so that we can organise your pick-up at the ferry terminal in Bellano.
Please email us in case you need further details. We are here to help you reach the departure point and organise a transfer if needed.
*The trail to the mill where we do the morning tasting entails a descent with some steep steps which must also be ascended on the return trip.
The tour runs rain or shine, but in case of really bad weather conditions it is possible that the tour undergoes some slight changes and that the transfer to Villa Balbianello is done using public transport and not with the private boat taxi due to safety reasons