The Roman poet Virgil declared Lake Como “our greatest lake,” a proclamation that still rings true two thousand years later. For millennia, its lush green hillsides have plunged into the sparkling, opaque water that radiates hues of cobalt blue and emerald green. Today, grandiose villas preside over the lake, and clusters of pretty towns line its shores. Equal parts glamorous and discreet, the ancient Roman holiday destination hasn’t lost any of its appeal.
While Hollywood didn’t put Lake Como on the map, the lake’s popularity among A-listers and jet setters has undeniably helped catapult the northern Italian destination into the limelight. Behind its aura of mystique, though, Lake Como harbors a humble side that warrants just as much fanfare as its flashy counterpart. Below, you’ll find a list of the very best things to do in Lake Como, ranging from the widely touted to the lesser-known spots every traveler should have on their radar.
Wine tasting
It should come as no surprise that vine-friendly plots intersperse the steep, bristly terrain squished between the lake and the Alps. Though Lake Como’s newish wine denomination, Terre Lariane IGT, applies only from the 2018 harvest, locals have grown grapes for centuries. Among the well-known red and white international grapes, there’s one indigenous white variety: Verdese. To sample the local juice, book a visit to Azienda Agricola Sorsasso in Domaso, on the northwest slope of the lake’s uppermost branch, for a tour and tasting followed by an al-fresco lunch with magnificent panoramas. Or, you can head into the mountains to Valtellina wine country, where winemakers tend to Nebbiolo (known locally as Chiavennasca) on dizzying, seemingly vertical terraces.
Address: Località Gaggio, 1/bis, 22013 Domaso CO
Website: sorsasso.com
End of War Museum
Lake Como’s formidable past is all too often overshadowed by an aura of luxury and glamour. Travelers come and go without realizing they’ve set foot on one of World War II’s most pivotal partisan hubs and that one of the most consequential end-of-war triumphs occurred on the outskirts of Dongo: the apprehension of Mussolini and his lackeys disguised as German soldiers on a convoy headed for Switzerland. This lesser-known side of the lake’s bygone times teems with tales of intrigue, espionage, and smuggling—both people and goods—to and from its neutral northern neighbor. Dongo’s End of War Museum offers a glimpse into this harrowing chapter of not only local but Italian history, chronicling partisan activity through photographs, documents, objects, recreations, and interactive multimedia. It’s lodged inside Palazzo Manzi, or the municipal headquarters, where, in fact, the partisans held and officially arrested the fascist dictator.
Address: Piazza Paracchini, 22014 Dongo CO
Website: museofineguerradongo.it
