Andreina Cordani misses George Clooney but quite likes the local silk…
There I was, trying to look relaxed and Italian, sipping coffee in the afternoon sunshine and reading a copy of Grazia (OK, it was British Grazia, but hey, that’s kind of Italian) when the waiters in the café all surged to the window. “Eccolo!” one of them shouted. “Ecco il Clooney!” I sat bolt upright. “There’s Clooney,” he’d said. I was in Bellagio, the small town that sits right at the apex of the Y-shaped lake, a scant 12 miles from Laglio, where the world’s most eligible bachelor owned a villa. Had he popped out for a drink in his local? Sauntering casually outside I could see a small knot of people – could he be among them? For a few moments frantic plans zipped through my head – tripping over in front of him and letting him help me up. Marching straight up to him and buying him a drink. My other half wouldn’t mind. In fact, he’d be impressed. This is George Clooney, for goodness sake… Then the crowd dispersed. The international film star, nowhere to be seen. Drat.
Still, staying in the beautiful town of Bellagio is ample compensation. It sits right at the apex of the y-shaped lake – it’s prettier and more peaceful than the main town of Como, and makes a great base to explore the area, and here’s what I did when I wasn’t stalking Hollywood A-listers.
See: The gardens of Villa Melzi are within walking distance of the town and are a great place to chill out with a book and enjoy the view. Historic Villa Serbelloni is further up the hill, and worth visiting for the amazing views.
Eat: At Trattoria San Giacomo order traditional dishes like Osso Buco, or sip wine at Cava Turacciologo. Fancy splashing out? Go to the Michelin Starred Terrazza Serbelloni at the luxurious Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, or eat more informally by the pool at their other restaurant, Mistral. Previous guests include Churchill, JFK and Al Pacino.
Explore: Catch a boat to the different towns surrounding the lake, including Varenna, where you can eat lunch by the waterside, then climb up a steep hill to the Castello di Vezio. Or visit any of the other villas in the area, like Villa Monastero at Varenna.
Shop: The famous Como silk shops can be a little expensive in Bellagio itself – the best bargains are probably available in Como, but there are some beautiful arty shops selling paintings and glass trinkets which are definitely worth a look.
Photo Attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/art976/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
