Varenna Premium Cruise with Gardens Entrance Villa Balbianello

Menaggio is one of the most lively and scenic villages on the western shore of Lake Como: an ideal starting point for exploring the center of the lake, with an open and bright view that embraces both shores of the Lake. Its history dates back to Roman times — the Via Regina, the consular road connecting Milan to Chiavenna, passed through here — and in the Middle Ages it was the site of a castle destroyed in 1523, of which the ruins still remain. The old town revolves around the lively Piazza Garibaldi, with cafes, restaurants and one of the most relaxing lakefronts on the lake. The location of Menaggio is strategically unique: at the entrance of the Val Sanagra, opposite Bellagio and with direct views of the central basin of the lake, it offers one of the widest and most scenic views of the Lake. It is no coincidence that for centuries it has been one of the landmarks for those who want to discover the lake in all its extent.

Bellagio is the most famous and desired destination of Lake Como: the "pearl of the lake" par excellence, perched on the tip of the promontory that divides the two branches of the Lake in a unique geographical position in the world. Its history is as old as the lake itself — Pliny the Younger already owned a Villa there — but it was between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that Bellagio became the exclusive destination of the European aristocracy, which built gardens and residences of extraordinary beauty. Today it is among the most visited villages in Italy, with its historic center of stairs, alleys and terraces overlooking the water. To dominate the promontory is Villa Serbelloni, with its park overlooking the lake on both sides. On the opposite bank opens the long avenue of the Gardens of Villa Melzi, the first botanical entrance to the city for those arriving from the lake.

Tremezzo is one of the most elegant villages on the western shore of Lake Como: a town grown on elite tourism of the nineteenth century, overlooking the center of the lake in one of the most scenic and photographed stretches of Lake Como. Its name is inextricably linked to Villa Carlotta, the most visited historic residence on the lake: built around 1690 by the Marquises Clerici, enriched with masterpieces by Canova, Thorvaldsen and Hayez by the collector Giovanni Battista Sommariva, and finally given by Princess Marianna of Nassau to her daughter Carlotta as a wedding gift — hence the name it still bears today. Its 8-hectare botanical park, with over 150 varieties of azaleas, camellias and exotic plants, is among the most spectacular in Italy and in spring transforms Tremezzo into one of the most sought-after views of the entire lake. From our tour, Tremezzo is admired in its most scenic perspective: from the boat, with the facade of Villa Carlotta opening directly onto the lake.

And here is the most anticipated moment of the tour: exclusive access to the gardens of Villa del Balbianello. No queues, no waiting — your ticket includes skip-the-line VIP admission, which allows you to walk straight through the gates of one of Lake Como's most iconic and desired properties, managed by the FAI. Villa del Balbianello is not just a historic Villa: it is a movie star. Its loggias overlooking the lake were the setting for Anakin and Padmè's kiss in Star Wars: Episode II, and for James Bond's gaze in Casino Royale with Daniel Craig. Recognizing it live, among its cypresses and terraces overlooking the water, is a rare emotion. The gardens develop on the Lenno promontory among rare plants, stone staircases and views of the lake center that change at every turn of the path. The view from the lodges is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy: in front of you, the Lario opens in all its breadth, with Bellagio in the background and the Alps on the horizon.