HIKING TOUR: VARENNA, Castle of VEZIO Villa MONASTERO, FIUMELATTE
Description
Discover the local history and traditions of Varenna on a hiking tour lead by a local guide. Visit Varenna, a romantic medieval village on Lake Como, the botanical garden of the world-famous Villa Monastero, the castle of Vezio that overlooks the village, and the source of Fiumelatte, one of the shortest rivers in the world, during a hike. Enjoy a walk in nature surrounded by silence and stunning panoramas. Visit the romantic medieval village of Varenna, its colourful narrow streets, and the "Walkway of Lovers." Explore the Castle of Vezio, a medieval castle with a stunning view at the intersection of the three branches of Lake Como. See the Fiumelatte, the second shortest river in Italy, already explored by Leonardo Da Vinci. Visit the Villa Monastero, a beautiful villa with a botanic garden on the lakeshore. Take a break for lunch and taste local products of the area, such as local cheeses and cured meats served with artisanal jams and honey.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Castle of Vezio shows us a breathtaking scenery of the central part of the Lake, watching Bellagio, Menaggio and Tremezzo. Immersed in a century-old olive grove, the castle tells us stories about its ancient origins. It's believed that the castle is visited by Queen Teodolinda, whose ghost sometimes appears...
Fiumelatte, better known as the shortest river in Italy, springs from a cave in the rock that has had illustrious explorers: Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the first. When active, the river flows into the lake in a beautiful cascade of white foam.
Villa Monastero, thanks to its strategic location, is one of the most interesting attractions of our lake: its history, its landscape, the botanic garden which extends for 2 km from Varenna to Fiumelatte with thousand botanical species and the House Museum
Varenna, a charming fishing village with its medieval centre, its small streets that lead from the main square to the lake, its beautiful lakeside with the romantic "Walk of Lovers".
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(51)
This tour was fantastic. Nadia is a local and she was so delightful. There was actually an issue with her schedule and she was very professional; contacted us ahead of time and offered a solution. Would highly Recommend any tour she does!
Thank you so much for your kind words! It was truly a pleasure meeting you and spending the day together. I really appreciate your understanding regarding the scheduling issue, and I’m glad we could find a good solution. Your recommendation means a lot to me, and I hope to welcome you back for another tour in the future! 😊
Weather did not cooperate, it was rainy and cold but Nadia made sure we had a wonderful experience nonetheless. The views from the castle were amazing, the gardens and natural surroundings the same. I can highly recommend taking this tour with Nadia. She is very knowledgeable and also very kind.
Thank you so much for your lovely review! Although the weather was not on our side, I’m truly happy to hear that you still had a wonderful experience. The castle views and gardens are beautiful in every season, and it was a pleasure sharing them with you. Thank you as well for your kind words about my knowledge and hospitality — they really mean a lot. I hope to welcome you again someday, perhaps with a little more sunshine next time! Warm regards, Nadia
My wife and I enjoyed the hike. It was informative, educational, pleasurable, and thrilling. The hike is challenging, but worth the views and experience. I drank water straight from the source at a waterfall. We stopped for lunch at Il Portichetto and had an authentic meal with a liter of red wine. The churches were historical and beautiful. The botanical garden was impressive. Nadia, our guide, was the most accommodating.
We had an amazing day today with Nadia seeing and hearing all about Varenna. Nadia was very knowledgeable and friendly and we really enjoyed her company. I cannot recommend this excursion enough, it really was a highlight of our trip!
It was a great pleasure to meet you and your mother. Thank you Shannon!
Had a great day walking around Varenna and hiking up to Vezio with Nadia. Nadia is a true native of Varenna and seems to know everyone in the area. Would highly recommend a day with Nadia.
Thank you Jeff, hope to see you again! Nadia
This was a fantastic tour. Nadia is very knowledgeable and made the tour very interesting. She is a local and can answer all your questions. We had a fantastic day with her and would totally recommend this tour.
Thank you Joanne, it was a great pleasure to share the day with you and John. I hope to see you again. Nadia
A wonderful view, the castle is interesting but does not tell its history. Indicate the sudden exit from the villa near boarding and landing of the boats is the easiest option of climbing.
Nadia was very knowledgeable and we really enjoyed our hike with her. She was also flexible about starting time which was great for us since we had an activity planned for after.
Thank you Frances!
Fantastic experience for our whole family. Nadia is an excellent guide, a true local, who adds that perfect extra touch.
Nadia was unavailable so she got one of her colleges to take us on a private tour, Emanuelle was OUTSTANDING! He even called ahead to the restaurant to see if they had GF food…which they did! The cafe at the base of the Castle was excellent. The views were stunning! A must do if you are capable of going up and down steep uneven terrain. Emanuelle took all the photos of my and my daughter, he was so kind and very good at his job! Born and raised in Bellagio 🥰
