One of the most beautiful experience from Milan is a visit to the Como Lake district , also called Lario , the third largest Italian lake after Garda and Maggiore .

It is one of the most picturesque of the Pre-alpine lakes and the only one of the three large northern lakes to be situated entirely in Lombardy . It lies in a valley scoured out by the ancient Adda glacier and is unusually shaped like an upside-down Y, with three branches running from Colico in the north, Como in the south west and Lecco in the south east. The point where the three branches meet is called the centre and is the most interesting part on account of its beautiful panoramic views.

The climate in this area is generally mild, especially in the center, which makes it very suitable for winter holidays. The lakeside vegetation is luxuriant - rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and olive groves flourish, and lemon trees, date palms and other subtropical plants grow in sheltered areas. Leaving Milan, after a 45 minutes ride to the north you'll rich the small road that goes round the Lake: nice villages like Cernobbio (where you can visit one of the most famous Italian hotels, Villa D'Esta), Moltrasio, Laglio (where George Cloney owns his villa) the fisherman village of Brienno, Villa Balbianello (a little gem created by Cardinal Durini at the end of XVIII cent., and Villa Carlotta (built at the end of XVII cent. Surrounded by a spectacular botanical garden) and Cadenabbia from where you can take the ferry to Bellagio or Varenna.

Obviously if you need your driver will suggest you a nice restaurant where taste the local specialties. On the way back stop in Como the lake's capital town. Surrounded by hills and mountains. It boasts several artistic monuments from different historical periods.

You'll see the medieval walls, the beautiful Romanesque and Baroque churches, piazza Volta and Piazza Duomo with its Town Hall, the Bell Tower and the superb 600-year old cathedral. Return to the hotel in the afternoon.