Bellagio on Lake Como

Bellagio brings together the distinctive shape of Lake Como, Romanesque architecture, villa gardens and a collection of historic navigational instruments. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay focused on culture and landscape, the differences between these places can help you get a sense of the destination. The Basilica di San Giacomo introduces you to Lombard Romanesque architecture, Villa Melzi d’Eril to neoclassical architecture and landscaped gardens, and the Museo degli strumenti per la navigazione to historic instruments. This allows you to explore Bellagio through the themes that matter for your trip.

Location between the branches of the lake

Bellagio lies at the base of the promontory that divides Lake Como into its two branches, Como and Lecco. This landform is a prominent geographical reference point for the town: the landscape is shaped by the promontory and the division of the lake. When planning your trip, you can consider this location alongside the cultural sites and decide whether landscape, architecture, garden design or navigation are your main interests. The sights offer different points of focus rather than all appealing to the same interests.

Romanesque architecture and art at the Basilica di San Giacomo

The Basilica di San Giacomo was built between 1075 and 1125 and is an outstanding example of Lombard Romanesque architecture. It is therefore a clear point of reference for travelers interested in historic architecture. The basilica contains a painting of the Deposition from the school of Perugino, as well as a Madonna delle Grazie traditionally attributed to the Foppa school. These two works of art complement the perspective on the building’s period with different art-historical references. If you want to explore Bellagio primarily through the history of its older architecture and art, the basilica brings these aspects together in one place.

Villa Melzi and the nature park on the promontory

Villa Melzi d’Eril was built in Bellagio between 1808 and 1810 in the neoclassical style. Its gardens feature terraces, native and exotic trees, and sculptures. The gardens also include a Japanese pond with aquatic plants, including water lilies, surrounded by Japanese maple trees and cedars. Architectural design, sculptures and botanical features are thus found side by side. The Parco di Villa Serbelloni offers a different scale: it is a nature park, covers almost the entire Bellagio promontory and extends over approximately 21 hectares. At Villa Melzi, the focus is on individual garden features, while at the Parco it is on the broad expanse of the promontory. This difference helps you compare garden design and a nature park as two distinct interests.

The history of navigation in San Giovanni

The Museo degli strumenti per la navigazione is housed in an old tower house in the distinctive district of San Giovanni di Bellagio. Its collection comprises more than 200 objects, including 18th-century Venetian telescopes, antique compasses, some from the Orient, and sundials from various periods. It also includes an extensive series of marine chronometers, an armillary sphere, a brass planetarium and numerous ship’s logs. The different objects offer insights into various aspects of navigation: telescopes are used for observation, compasses for orientation, and sundials and chronometers for timekeeping. The logs complement the instruments with records from seafaring. The museum’s focus is therefore clearly distinct from Bellagio’s buildings and gardens.

Discover more destinations: Ossuccio, Val Rezzo, Livo, Castiglione Dʼintelvi, Cagno, Schignano, Campione D'italia, Valmorea

View the wider travel overview: Como.