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A picturesque lake set in opposition to the backdrop of the Southern Alps, Lake Como is likely one of the hottest locations in Italy.
It’s the place you may discover all of these beautiful Baroque villas that maintain popping up in your Instagram feed, the postcardy pastel-colored cities and plush nature.
On the draw back, it may be dear and really crowded, even within the fall.
Guests will proceed swarming into Varenna’s slender streets, ruining the idyllic vibes, Villa del Balbianello won’t stop being Instagrammable as a result of summer season’s over, and also you would possibly as properly hand over on attempting for the right image in Bellagio until you are there are like, 6 AM.
Not all hope is misplaced, nonetheless, as there may be an alternate in case you’re eager on experiencing Italian tradition and residing la dolce vita on the banks of Como undisturbed:
Genuine Italian Tradition In One Of The Nation’s Busiest Locations
This upcoming season, the idyllic lakeside city of Lecco is the place you ought to be headed.
Regardless of being a brief half-hour drive from Varenna, it’s a hidden gem guests are likely to bypass, despite the fact that it is one of many largest and most necessary settlements on the lake, with round 47,000 inhabitants and a well-developed tourism business.
Positioned on the southeastern shore, it’s flanked by magnificent mountains, together with Monte Resegone and Monte Barro, which provide sweeping views of the winding lake and might be summited on foot.
Piani d’Erna is accessible by cable automotive, with round-trip tickets costing round $11.
The pedestrianized heart is legendary for its artwork galleries, quite a few gelaterie––Gelati Toldo serves the creamiest, lactose-intolerant-friendly ice cream on the town––charming squares and heritage buildings, most notably the Basilica di San Nicolò.
Constructed as early because the Eleventh-century, initially as a Romanesque church, it obtained a Baroque makeover from the Nineteenth-century onward, together with the addition of the now-unmissable belfry, dramatically rising above the maze of car-free lanes that’s the Previous City.
With this a lot magnificence and historic worth, you’ll assume Lecco has already succumbed to overtourism but in contrast to lots of its Como counterparts, it stays (principally) unspoiled.
Why Italians Themselves Love Como
It Feels Far Extra Genuine
It does have its justifiable share of conventional family-owned eating places and photogenic corners that might usually appeal to the hordes, but it surely’s undoubtedly on the quieter finish of Como, with a visual absence of cheesy memento stalls promoting overpriced magnets.
We’re not saying Lecco is precisely crowd-free––whether or not it is Amalfi or an offbeat island, nowhere in Italy is at this level––however it’s undoubtedly extra offbeat, and for years now, it has been Lombardian’s personal secure haven for beating the seasonal crowds, which proceed to surge properly into the autumn interval.
In essence, Lecco feels usually Italian with out all of the added fluff, vacationer traps, and unjustifiably excessive costs.
Granted, nightlife is near non-existent, and this is not someplace you go for higher-end purchasing––as an alternative you may discover your common H&Ms and Calzedonias––but when slowing issues down, savoring Lombardian wine and admiring serene lake views is your factor, you’ve got come to the proper place.
It is Simply Cheaper
For starters, sitting down for an espresso and a pistachio-cream-filled croissant by Piazza Garibaldi as you people-watch and a busker performs (yet one more) rendition of Bella Ciao close by––the previous Italian cliche, and a quintessential one at that––will value you beneath $5.
For cheap dinners and excellent service, be sure to ebook a desk on the well-frequented Ristorante Don Rodrigo.
A polenta-based dish or finely lower pasta can value as little as $14.25.
We additionally love Pizzeria Da Rida for his or her huge number of pizzas, ranging from a negligible $5.49, and Ristorante Nicolin for superb eating and particular events: their Agnello dei Pirenei lamb and in depth wine menu are to die for.
It is with out query extra upscale than the odd informal Lecco eatery, nonetheless, you must plan on spending an affordable $45-50 on a three-course dinner accompanied by wine and a bottle of glowing water for one––in Varenna or Bellagio, that might imply double the worth.
With regards to lodging, Lecco is likely one of the least-expensive cities on Lake Como, with privately-managed B&Bs like SoloSonno itemizing up rooms from $73 this upcoming fall and overnights in 3-star properties Lodge Alberi and Albergo Nicolin ranging between $90 and $96.
How To Get There This Fall
Aside from being extra reasonably priced and simply as fairly as its Como sisters, Lecco is the right base for exploring the lake, with 29 trains working to and from Varenna per day, and as many as 6 every day ferries connecting it to touristy Bellagio.
You can even get round simply superb by renting a automotive, as a majority of Como’s lakeside cities are inside brief driving distance of one another, and the drive alongside the southeastern financial institution, which Lecco straddles, is likely one of the most scenic in the whole area.
To get to Lecco this fall, Individuals will fly into Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), the closest airport, some 52.5 miles from the lake itself. (Discover choices on Google Flights here)
Upon touchdown in Milan, a cultural jewel of Northern Italy residence to a landmark cathedral and artwork museums which might be value exploring for a day on a brief transit, you may simply take a direct prepare to Lecco from the Central Station:
The journey takes round 40 minutes, and there are as many as 58 trains a day from $6 and might be booked here.
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