The Kilkenny Observer Friday 22 April 2022
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Travel & Leisure WHILE Italy’s Lake Como is easily accessible by train, after flying into Milan,it’s also less than an hour’s drive from Milan meaning it’s the perfect short road trip destination. With its twisting lakeside lanes, mountains and charming towns, here’s the ultimate guide to driving Lake Como. Day 1 – Milan to Tremezzina Setting off from Milan’s Malpensa Airport, it’s a short 40 minute blast up the A9 to the town of Como. For those coming from the heart of Milan, the journey takes a similar amount of time or up to an hour if travelling by train. Serving as the gateway to Lake Como, the city is a good first stopping point with its bustling shopping streets, beautiful architecture and chic cafe culture. Historians and shoppers will enjoy the market stalls that line the Medieval city walls at Piazza Vittoria. Everything from crafts to vintage clothing can be found here but watch for the crowds in peak seasons. Venture beyond the city walls and you’ll discover the old town. It’s worth meandering around the shopping streets, through the Piazzas and past the ancient churches (grabbing an espresso on the way, of course) and heading down to the lakefront to get a first glimpse of the calm and cooling water as it laps along the promenade. From Como, head down the left-hand side of the lake, which weaves past some of the region’s finest villas and villages. For those in a hurry, take the SS340 – a wide and fast road that caries most of the traffic – while the real gems can be found along Via Regina, a narrow road that hugs the lakeside, offering spectacular views around every corner of
A three-day road trip to Lake Como
the water and pastel-coloured villas. Driving on to Lenno, this charming town is in a sheltered bay with restaurants and café bars overlooking the gardens of Villa del Balbianello. Aside from starring as a location in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale, the villa was once home to Italian explorer Count Guido Monzino and is worth a visit as one of the region’s bestpreserved villas. From Lenno, drive on and wind your way up the hillside
directly above the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, branching off the SS340. Not far up the hill, you’ll pull into Al Veluu – one of Como’s best spots for lunch. Take a seat, enjoy the food and, most importantly, indulge in the spectacular views over the lake, Lenno and the surrounding area. Day 2 – Tremezzina to Varenna Waking up after a night at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, it’s time to get back on the road and head further north. Keep
driving north, hugging the shoreline wherever possible. Past Menaggio, the landscape gets wilder and quieter as you move away from the busier tourist hotspots. Venturing to the far north of the lake, the marshy nature reserve of Pian di Spagna is an excellent place to spot wildlife, get out of the car and explore on foot or take in some of the area’s history. Inhabited since Roman times, the flood plain is beautifully framed by the surrounding mountains and offers some rugged respite from Como’s
for the LGBTQ+ community. It has a long history of fighting for gay rights and the city has stood like a beacon of hope through the years. Here, you will find a vibrant LGBTQ+ community that has stood up for its rights and has come to be known as the “gay capital of the world.”. San Francisco has an acceptance score of 8.21; 1.6 clubs and bars per 100,000 people; and a rating of 4.2 on TripAdvisor. It’s the only American city to be featured in the top 10 of this list.
1. Madrid, Spain Madrid has a great acceptance score of 8.81 and has 17 gay clubs and bars (0.3 per 100,000 people). However, it takes a beating in the ratings of these clubs and bars on TripAdvisor with an average of 3.6, the lowest yet. Spain is one of the most liberal and tolerant nations in the world, so it’s always a good idea to visit the country. For the LGBTQ+ community, there are tons of events and places to feel safe and free (discrimination isn’t cool in Spain) and it’s another world leader when it comes to same-sex laws. 2. Rotterdam, Holland Another Dutch city high in the ranks is Rotterdam, which has an acceptance rating of 9.8 just like Amsterdam. It’s not ideal that it only has two clubs and bars (0.2 per 100,000 people), but they’ve got an average rating of 5. 3. San Francisco, California San Francisco is one of the favourite cities in the world
more tourist visited areas. Moving on, the road sweeps around the top of the lake and back down the western side, past Sant’ Agata at the mouth of the river Adda and onto SP72. Once again, the slower route hugs the lakeside and twists its way through the lakeside towns and fishing villages. Continuing on the road, head for the colourful commune of Varenna, one of Como’s most authentic and unspoilt towns. After lunch there , it’s worth taking a stroll around the
Seven cities welcoming of same sex couples
4. Reykjavik, Iceland Iceland’s capital soars on every metric on the charts. It scored 10/10 on LGBTQ+ acceptance; it has the most gay-friendly bars and clubs (2.5 per 100,000 people); and many of these establishments have an average score of 4.0 on TripAdvisor, so the quality is top-notch, too. 5. Amsterdam, The Netherlands The Netherlands was the first country in the world to
gardens of Villa Monastero before heading across on the ferry to Bellagio for the evening and a night at Hotel Belvedere. Perched on a hill above the well-known town, while Belvedere doesn’t quite match up to the Tremezzo’s grandeur, it’s an exceptionally well-placed and inviting place to stay. Day 3 – Bellagio to Milan It’s difficult to find a more picturesque place to wake up than Bellagio. At the heart of Lake Como, the charismatic town is a tourist hot spot during the day and, as a result, is awash with restaurants, bars, cafes and – most importantly – gelaterias. Grab a scoop or two before you hit the road and make tracks back down the eastern side of Lake Como’s west leg towards Milan on SP583. For those looking to take an alternative route back to Milan, branch off down the lake’s eastern leg also on SP583 towards the city of Lecco. Sticking to the tried and tested track, the road down the eastern side of Como’s western leg winds its way out of Bellagio and through more of Como’s quiet fishing villages as it nears Como city. Stopping for lunch in Torno is a must. Sitting by Torno’s little port sipping an aperitif is like stepping back in time. The bells of the church close by chime as the local restaurants start to wake up and prepare for another lunchtime. Enjoy the gentle pace while walking the narrow, cobbled streets before departing for the comparative hustle and bustle of Como City. From Como, it’s another short blast back to Milan down the A9 as the lakeside life fades away in the rearview mirror and the pace picks up back in one of Italy’s busiest cities.
recognise same-sex rights, so it’s natural that its capital would be a role model for the world. It has a 9.8 acceptance score, 1.6 bars per 100,000 people (16 in total), and an average rating of 4. 6. Brussels, Belgium Belgium is also a forwardthinking, progressive country that recognises gay rights (same-sex marriage and adoptions have been legal for almost two decades. Its capital Brussels takes the sixth spot with an acceptance score of 9 and 14 gay-friendly bars and clubs (0.7 per 100,000 people). However, the ratings aren’t exceptional —t he bars have an average score of 3.9 on TripAdvisor. 7. Cardiff Cardiff has four nightclubs and bars that welcome the LGBTQ+ community and an average rating of 4.1 on TripAdvisor. If you’re looking for things to do in Cardiff, Visit Wales has recommendations on gayfriendly places, hotels, and events.
