In the second part of our series about car hire holidays in the Lake Como area of Italy, we take a look at the town of Como, which lies at the southern end of the lake’s western “leg”.
Although Como isn’t the most picturesque town in the area, it’s worth stopping here for a day or two, as it has plenty to offer. You’ll find a number of hotels to choose from in the town, such as the Best Western Continental Hotel (Viale Innocenzo XI, 15, Como) and the Grand Hotel di Como (Via Cernobbio, Como), and there are also many guest houses and B&Bs.
Once you’ve parked your hire car, take a stroll around Como’s Old Town district. It contains a number of historic buildings, including the town’s 14th-century Duomo (Como Cathedral), which features both Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles. Next door to the Duomo, you’ll find the Broletto, which was originally the town hall and was later used as a theatre. This distinctive pink, grey and white building was constructed in the 13th century. If you fancy a bite to eat, you can stop at one of the many cafes in the Old Town area.
Como has a long history of silk-making, and you can find out more about the industry at the town’s silk-making museum, the Museo Didattico Dell Seta at Via Castelnuovo 1. Como’s other museums include the Museo Alessandro Volta, which features exhibits relating to the life and work of the famous physicist, and which is housed in the neo-classical Tempio Voltiano (Volta Temple).
One of Como’s other must-see attractions is the 18th century Villa Olmo, with its attractive gardens.
If you fancy a break from your hire car, take a trip on the Brunate Funicular Railway, which runs from Como to the hilltop village of Brunate, for some stunning views. For more great views of the area, take advantage of your hire car and drive to Baradello Castle (Castillo Baradello), to the south of the town. This Romanesque tower is located at the top of the Baradello Hill.
Once you’ve explored Como, you can pack up your bags and head off to explore more of the area in your hire car. In the next article in this series on Lake Como car hire holidays, we will be looking at the town of Bellagio.
Tags: car hire, car rental, driving holidays, Italy holidays, Lake Como
[...] lap of luxury? And this time will they do it in Italian style? It’s been rumored that David BeckhamA Tour of Italy’s Lake Como Region – Como | Smart TravellerIn the second part of our series about car hire holidays in the Lake Como area of Italy, we take a [...]