Cernobbio, 3 km from Como

Leaving Como and taking the Via Regina which runs along the west shore of the lake, the first village you will come to (approx. 5 minutes by car) is Cernobbio, a famous, chic resort on the edge of the lake and at the foot of Monte Bisbino. The name derives from an old convent, “Coenobium”, which was situated where the world-renowned Hotel and Conference centre, Villa d’Este is now situated. The village has a very picturesque cobbled main street with delightful boutiques and cafes. There is a selection of restaurants and pizzerias to suit all budgets and tastes. Along the lakefront there is a cobbled piazza with wine bars and restaurants, as well as a lakefront lido with swimming pool.

From the village there is a scenic route which leads to Monte Bisbino (1325 m). After Rovenna, near the farmhouses of the Alpe Scarone, at a height of 585 m is the Buco della Volpe (Foxhole), a large cave with pools and underground streams. On the top of the mountain there is a sanctuary of the Virgin Mary, which dates back to the fifteenth century. From here one can enjoy the beautiful view of the lake, the Alps and the plain below. From the village there is a scenic route which leads to Monte Bisbino (1325 m).
Cernobbio is the starting-point for the “Via dei Monti Lariani”, a long and scenic trail between the heights of 600 and 1200 m and which is signposted all the way by the Italian Alpine Club.

Things to see

Villa d’Este

It was built for Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio in the sixteenth century but its’ present name was given to it in 1815, when Princess Caroline of Brunswich, a descendant of one Guelfo d’Este, took residence there. It passed through a number of owners until it was renovated and turned into a luxurious hotel. The hotel has a collection of sixteenth-century paintings and sculptures. It is surrounded by a beautiful park, with caves, fountains and statues.

Church of S. Michele di Rovenna
Renovated in the eighteenth century, it contains a Romanesque processional cross (eleventh century) and a valuable carved baroque altar designed by G.B. Barberini.

Villa Erba

Today a prestigious multipurpose centre for various events and congresses, it was built in 1898 on the site of the already existing Villa Nuova on the grounds of a medieval monastery.

Villa Pizzo

Built in the sixteenth century and restored a number of times, it contains frescoes from the seventeenth century. The vast park in which it is situated is rich with old trees and a great variety of plant species.