On the east side of the lake sits the serene town of Pognana Lario. We drove through Como along winding roads overlooking the lake, with views of the Alps peaking through the trees. Even at a moderate altitude, the landscape, the expanse of Lake Como, the nature and buildings set along its coast, were breathtaking. Our drive concluded at our final destination—Villa Lario, an exclusive lakefront property that we were lucky to experience. Each and every detail of Villa Lario was thoughtful and meticulous. The stunning Italian architecture of Villa Lario’s Il Palazzo is home to an array of suites, a pool, gardens, and breathtaking views. Of all the incredible spaces Villa Lario has to offer, we were especially blown away by their bar, where swinging glass doors opened to the most spectacular lake view—a surreal reminder of how special it was to sit in these seats and take in all Lake Como has to offer.
Lake Como
Lake Como
One of the most idyllic settings in the world, Lake Como, Italy has been a destination for travelers for decades. A display of the peak of Italy’s glamour and cultural vivacity, Lake Como is famed for the natural beauty it is surrounded by.
Lake Como is an inspiring showcase of the wonders of the world, both natural and man-made, where the Alps serve as a backdrop to a fairy-tale-like town and villas along crystal blue waters. There is truly nowhere in the world like it.
This was the first stop of Spaced Magazine’s trip through Italy during May of 2024.
Editor’s Note: If you are a comfortable driver, we highly recommend renting a car or becoming familiar with the ferries! We were grateful we rented a car as we moved from experience to experience on the lake.
THE VILLAS
This is what Villa Lario excels in, providing opportunities to remember, at every turn, how truly special the region is. Through their integration of modern luxury into 19th century villas, Villa Lario offers their guests the experience of Italy’s enduring romance, cultural vivacity, and natural richness.
LOVE COMO RENTALS
During our time in Lake Como, it was a true pleasure to discover different locations around the lake. Following Villa Lario, we stayed at one villa through Love Como, a Lake Como rental property offering visitors the chance to experience grand villas and cozy apartments across the region.
At a variety of estates and accommodations, Love Como prioritizes locations that provoke emotion above all, while ensuring that guests are in a beautiful, comfortable space with access to Lake Como’s offerings. Communicating with the Love Como team was a pleasure–our experience was seamless. At the Love Como property, we got to take a moment to breathe and absorb our experiences, as their team alleviated the stress that often comes with traveling.
If looking for a group retreat location these villas are especially ideal, but we can not recommend Love Como enough for whichever reason you decide to visit.
Our Love Como experience was at Villa Angela Maria in Brienno. Though we had a few rainy days during our stay, Lake Como in the rain could not have been cozier—a much-needed moment of calmness following back-to-back exploring. The gray skies made the Lake seem even more expansive, the moss even greener, and only highlighted how incredible the nature surrounding us was.
The Villa sits on a large property, a three level home with seven bedrooms to fit up to 10 guests comfortably. The villa had a dining room, a precious kitchen, and a lovely terrace on the lake. Swinging glass doors opened to an outdoor lounge overlooking the beautiful town of Brienno, as well as a dock, garden, and a quaint lake house that sleeps 2 guests.
The Villa’s charm was in its sense of tradition and history, every aspect felt like a fairytale, especially walking through the stunning garden. We were so comfortable throughout our stay–it was a true source of relaxation as we rested, prepared meals with fresh Italian ingredients from nearby shops, caught up on work, and made ourselves at home.
Another large, historic, lakefront villa, Villa La Felice had direct access to step into the lake. Lake Como catches the most wind on its northwest corner, so we were able to watch kayakers, kite surfers, and sunbathers experience the lake up close. Once a traditional locanda, or inn, the history of the building resonates throughout the space, with the inclusion of small renovations to retain the comfortability of the villa. Throughout our stay, we were drawn to the modern kitchen and dining room, where we enjoyed slow mornings preparing breakfasts, sipping espresso, and stepping outside to sunbathe and workout in Villa La Felice’s gardens.
The house is well equipped for large groups; sleeping 12, the villa has six bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom as well as a conservatory with a vast dining table for communal dinners. When the sun set, we retired to the bedrooms and enjoyed the views from our rooms; we never quite got used to the sight of the Lake, its beauty remained astounding to us throughout our stays. Located steps from a quaint town and with paths along the lake, Pianello del Lario was the perfect place for a run or leisurely stroll to bask in all the region had to offer. There was something incredibly special about Villa La Felice, not only in the comfort it offered us during our stay, but the history felt within the home. There was an overall sense of magic here, a feeling created by a combination of spectacular views and the ability to explore.
THE EXPLORING
The best possible way to kick off a trip to Lake Como is to take in the surroundings from the middle of the lake itself. Lake Como Experiences gave us the opportunity to soak in our surroundings right after arriving in Italy in a private, luxurious way. Elia and Andrea from the Lake Como Experiences team accompanied us on the boat tour, ensuring that every moment of our adventure was exciting, yet comfortable. They let us stop as often, and for however long, as we desired to visually absorb the beauty and capture its magic for you all.
This boat tour was the best way to see some of the seemingly endless sights provided by Lake Como in one excursion, the boat allowing an efficient and all-encompassing tour. Our stops included the famous Nesso Bridge, countless precious lakeside towns, Villa Balbiano–the set of House of Gucci, Villa Balbianello–the set of Succession, just to name a few. Every moment of our trip across the lake felt like a dream we did not want to wake up from. If you are able, booking a boat tour with Lake Como Experiences was beyond worthwhile–they made the entire experience unforgettable. We can not wait to return and carve out an entire afternoon, or two… or three, to spend on their tours with their delightful team.
A pasta making class was a top priority when planning our Italy itinerary. When we came across Valentina’s Pasta Matta class, which translates to “Crazy Pasta,” we knew we had found the perfect one for Spaced. The class takes place in Valentina’s cozy home in Cernobbio’s hills, with extraordinary views of the lake from a large arched window.
Valentina moved to Lake Como in 2004; a designer by trade, she brought her passion for traditional cooking skills to her new home, offering both visitors and residents the opportunity to experience Italian pasta-making through her classes. Valentina’s alternative approach to pasta and teaching includes allowing, and encouraging, her students to create unique shapes and colors with their pasta, to display how pasta-making can be as creative as one desires! Her goal is to share her knowledge throughout the class and ensure that her students leave with the confidence to make pasta as they wish, when and where they wish, no matter how non-traditional that might be. She absolutely achieved that goal.
We learned how easy creating pasta is, though it is often deemed an unapproachable and challenging practice. The class encouraged us to be as creative as we wanted, while still providing a beautiful, cozy, pasta-making lesson–it was everything you could ask for.
THE DINING
Though cooking at our Love Como villas was certainly a lovely way to start each day, no trip to Italy would be complete without incredible restaurant outings. Our two favorite dining experiences were both in Cernobbio at Ristorante Raimondi and Materia Ristorante.
As we approached Ristorante Raimondi within Hotel Villa Flori, we knew we were in for one of the most idyllic dining experiences of our lives. Located in the historic 19th century Villa Flori, Ristorante Raimondi offers all the glamour and elegance one might expect from a waterfront meal on Lake Como. Maintaining restored original furnishings with the addition of contemporary touches, Villa Flori captures the cultural beauty that pervades Italy.
Ristorante Raimondi overlooks the lake, with deep red cushions accentuating the lush greenery and deep blue water; white tablecloths and perfectly polished dishes seemed to glow in the sunlight. We could not have visited on a more beautiful day and were just as captivated by the dishes as we were by our surroundings. The highlight of our meal was a “plin” ravioli with white asparagus, filled with goat cheese and topped with fresh sage.
Ristorante Raimondi is a flawless location for a daytime meal and a truly glamorous Lake Como experience.
Throughout our time in Lake Como, we were constantly observing, trying to understand as much of the beauty in front of us as possible. When we entered the simple, almost colorless dining room of Materia in the beautiful town of Cernobbio, we were granted a brief lapse in visual stimulation; it wasn’t long before we realized this dining experience would be anything but. This meal lit up every one of our senses, and it became clear why Materia is so minimalist–the food speaks for itself.
Chef Davide Caranchini opened Materia in 2016 and has since earned one Michelin star. A true storyteller, Chef Davide took us on a sensory journey through a 6 course tasting menu ‘per gustare,’ to enjoy. “Our interpretation of Italian gastronomy.” Throughout the meal, we were stunned by the fine dining standard the restaurant upheld, as well as the kitchen’s willingness to experiment.
Every dish surprised us, both in taste and meaning. The story that left the largest impression was our dessert, called “Spring/Summer 2023.” The dish presented to us appeared to be a bowl of ashes, a nod to what the near future holds in the face of the climate crisis. The ash was made from kitchen remnants, and veiled a stunning dessert underneath. This was followed by a trick box of treats, a lighthearted and joyous end to the meal.
We were delighted to have the opportunity to speak with Chef Davide after our meal, and connect over our different mediums of storytelling. We’re honored to feature him and Materia here within our Lake Como itinerary and look forward to crossing paths with him and his culinary adventures again.
Lake Como’s natural wonder is more than enough reason to invest in a visit but this is heightened by the astonishing culture that can be found within each establishment and excursion. This is a trip for both exploration and restoration, both excitement and reflection. While this is what we discovered while in Lake Como, we look forward to see what you find as you forge your own paths and curate your own experiences— and of course, as always, Spaced Magazine will be here whenever you need a boost of inspiration.
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