Lake Como - Varenna

Today you will discover Varenna, one of the hidden gems of Italy on the Lake Como. 

How to arrive in Varenna?
It is reachable by train from Milano Centrale in about 1 hour but to visit the villas, the castle and all the other attractions you will need a car so you can arrive with your car or arrive by train and then rent a car or use a taxi.

By car: along the SS36 of Lake Como and Spluga, along the Lecco branch.Varenna is located about 30 km away from Lecco.

So, where to stay in Varenna? 

This municipality is known for its view and it's not one of the cheaper ones. But it has a few b&b where you can have a double room with private bathroom for 60 euros per night. Then you have the villas, astonishing but more expensive.

Among the cheapest accommodation i suggest b&b Orange House, Villa Elena b&b and Hotel Montecodeno.

Then there are more expensive solutions like Albergo del Sole, Hotel Villa Cipressi, and Hotel du Lac. In their website you will find directions to arrive, a photo-gallery and the price list.

What to visit in Varenna?

First of all Castello di Vezio, built in the early 12th century it is near Varenna and the municipality of Perledo. It was once connected to Varenna by a walled path. Its history dates before the 12th century as tombs and weapons of the iron age were found and it was used during the First World War as a shelter. 

It now hosts a garden and some hawks raised by a local falconer.

In the main tower you can also visit a permanent exhibition dedicated to a sea dinosaur discovered here in 1830.

San Giorgio Parish Church, located in San Giorgio square in the center of Varenna, is a basilica built around the early 1300s. In the façade you can admire a fresco of St. Christopher and inside there is a colored stone Deposition from the Cross.

Fiumelatte it literally means "milk river" due to its white color. It flows from a cavity into lake Como and it's known as the shorter river in Italy thanks to his length of about 250 mt (820 ft). Another peculiarity is that it only flows from march to October.

And obviously you can rent a boat and explore the lake! You can look at this website to rent a boat in Varenna.

Hope you enjoy this Italian hidden gem. Here's a map with the location of the main sightseeing. Enjoy and don't forget to comment down below any question or suggestion.