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A popular town, containing the gardens of villas Serbelloni and Melzi, a Romanesque church, a café-lined harbour front and a pretty warren of medieval alleys (see Villa Serbelloni, Bellagio, Villa Melzi, Bellagio).

Italy’s silk capital was founded by the Romans and has a spectacular cathedral (see Duomo, Como), a handful of modest museums, lots of boutiques and two ancient churches.

Arguably, Varenna makes a better base for exploring the lake than crowded Bellagio. It has ferry links with the major towns and everything from frescoed churches to lovely walks (see Villa Monastero, Varenna, Villa Cipressi, Varenna).

A pleasant little resort on the main ferry lines, with some modest Baroque churches.

A tiny resort whose main claim to fame is the Villa Carlotta (see Villa Carlotta, Tremezzo).

The capital of the lake’s southeastern arm is famous for sights related to native writer Alessandro Manzoni, who set parts of his I Promessi Sposi (see I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)) in the suburban hamlet of Olate.

The town has two excellent medieval churches: Santa Maria del Tiglio and, up on the hillside, Santa Maria delle Grazie.

On Piazza S. Giorgio sits the black-and-white striped façade of Santi Nazaro e Celso. A steep street leads to the entrance of the dramatic Orrido gorge.

Don’t miss the 11th-century San Stefano and neighbouring baptistry. Just north of town, in Mezzagra, a black cross marks the spot where Mussolini was shot by partisans.

On tiny Lake Annone in the Brianza triangle between Como and Lecco, Civate is the access point to San Pietro al Monte, a wonderful 11th-century monastic complex.