Lake Como – Lago di Como
By Milena Santoro, CMM, CMP, PIDP, MS Productions, Edmonton, AB, CanadaPhotos by Riccardo Bestetti, Studio Fotografico Bestetti, Lecco LC, Italy“When you write the story of two happy lovers, let the story be set on the banks of Lake Como.”
- Franz Liszt
Lake Como is the third largest glacier-fed Italian lake that runs approximately 31 miles (50 km) long and is shaped like an upturned Y. Famous worldwide for its beauty, glamour, elegance, and breathtaking landscapes, it is a place of charm and romance. Famous for its exquisite gardens, villas, and majestic scenery, the Lake Como area has always been a magnet for the elite—attracting celebrities including George Clooney, Madonna, Donatella Versace, and Sir Richard Branson. Churchill painted his famous watercolors overlooking Lake Como’s blue waters and flowering gardens. Longfellow once wrote of it: “I ask myself, Is this a dream? Will it vanish into air?”The cobalt waters of Lake Como are set with a backdrop of the Alps and Renaissance-era villas of noble families. Surrounded by colorful, blooming azaleas, rhododendrons, palm and lemon trees, it is renowned as the most picturesque destination in the world, a perfect setting for a wedding. Consider the climate and the ceremony options.With a mild microclimate, the best time to experience this beautiful location is between April and November. Couples wishing to marry in Lake Como have multiple options—from civil ceremonies, symbolic blessings, and vow renewals to religious ceremonies, including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Hindu.The perfect location awaitsVisitors have been coming to Lake Como to admire its beauty since Roman times. Romantic villages surround its lakeside shores, like the fairytale towns of Bellagio (also known as The Pearl of the Lake), Menaggio, Lenno, Tremezzo, and Varenna. Each offers its own story, treasures, and allure.For a memorable ceremony, couples can choose from majestic castles, churches, magnificent cathedrals—such as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, which is recognized as one the best examples of “Gothic Renaissance Fusion”—historical buildings, town halls, stunning botanical gardens, and boats. The venue options include everything from unique villas to historical hotels, such as Villa del Balbianello (filmed in Casino Royale in Lenno), Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, and the famous Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, chosen by Forbes Traveler as the best hotel in the world. The fashion capital in Lombardy, located 25 miles north of Milan and on the Swiss border near Lugano, Switzerland, is in a unique geographical setting. You can arrive by car, sailboat, powerboat, steamer, or seaplanes. Airports such as Malpensa, Linate, and Orio al Serio are close to Lake Como, about a 45-minute drive from the lake. To expand on this amazing experience, wedding couples and their guests can take a brief trip and experience surrounding towns like Verona and Venice or enjoy two 18-hole golf courses. Mangia! Italian cuisine is unforgettableOf course, you can’t forget about the amazing culinary traditions of northern Italian cuisine. Known for its Michelin-starred restaurants, rustic Italian eateries, sleek bars, and bistros this metropolitan city has a real café culture. You can spend hours in the piazzas, dining in the open air, and people-watching. The food is as varied as the local area, offering a gastronomic treasure ranging from lake fish to cheese, cold cuts, and meat-based dishes. Polenta, risotto, game, mushrooms, and chestnuts are among the signature offerings, in keeping with traditional tastes. And let’s not forget the wine. The delightful cuisine can all be washed down with a flavorful, local wine from Brianza, which also offers a perfect excursion to an area full of vineyards where couples and their guests can spend time eating and drink. Lake Como is an extraordinary experience couples and their guests will never forget. ••Lake Como: Did you know…• The 19th century French writer Stendhal was inspired to set part of The Charterhouse of Parma on Como’s shores.• Verdi composed La Traviata, Liszt composed Après une Lecture de Dante, and Bellini composed Norma at Lake Como.• Wordsworth, Shelley, Puccini, and Rossini all found inspiration at Como.• Leonardo da Vinci used the streams and waterfalls as the setting for Madonna of the Rocks.• John F. Kennedy stayed at Lake Como, as did Napoleon.• Alfred Hitchcock made his first film, The Pleasure Garden, on the grounds of the Villa d’Este, the lake’s premier hotel, in 1925.• The lake apparently disappointed Leonardo da Vinci, while a guest at the December 1493 wedding of Bianca Maria Sforza to Emperor Maximilian. “These trips should be made in the month of May,” he wrote in a message left behind after the ceremony. • Actress Emily Blunt married actor John Krasinski at an exclusive Lake Como venue in 2010.• John Legend and Chrissy Teigen tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at a private, lavish estate in 2013.
