If you like Italy and perhaps wish to visit it in the future, then follow us because MedievalMade is touring the best medieval towns in the country! On each trip, we will reveal hidden gems and local secrets, so stay tuned!
Our first stop today is Lake Como, the famous residence of George Clooney and his wife Amal.
Way before Clooney, Lake Como already was an international destination and the set of iconic movies from Star Wars to James Bond. As a matter of fact, this has been a popular destination since ancient times, and even Roman emperors resided here!
HOW TO GET CLOSE TO THE VILLAS
George Clooney, Madonna, Richard Branson, Sylvester Stallone, Gianni Versace, and Ronaldinho, are just a few of the many celebrities who own or have owned villas on the shores of Lake Como.
From aristocrats to Hollywood stars, this lake features a perfect balance between modern and old architecture. A trip around the lake is, truly, a travel through time.
The best way to get really close to the villas and their secluded gardens is definitely by water. We rented a private boat with a local guide, which during low season you can book for less than $500. Believe us, it’s worth it!
The two-hours tour allowed us to see the most important landmarks and villages. We departed from the pier of Como, the southwestern tip of the lake, then headed north (and back along the opposite shore).
Make sure you bring some extra warm clothes because it can get chilly and windy! We stuffed our MedievalMade duffle bag with throw blankets and extra jackets. If you want to support us, get this lightweight versatile bag for all your adventures!
Besides celebrities and wealthy entrepreneurs, we were surprised to hear how many Prime ministers and politicians from all over the world purchased a villa here. The price tag? Our guide revealed that it ranges from 10 to 100 million Euros and beyond.
In 2002, George Clooney purchased this 25 rooms villa for nearly $14 million. According to the reports, today the lavish property is worth over $100 million!
[George Clooney's villa in the village of Laglio on Lake Como]
The high price tag doesn’t mean the owners live in Como all year long; as a matter of fact, they often spend here only a couple weeks to a couple months out of the entire year. The staff, on the contrary, is always present as it was clear from the impeccably manicured gardens.
[The surreal gardens of Villa Balbianello, set of Star Wars and James Bond]
NOT JUST BEAUTY
Located only 30 miles north of Milan, Lake Como was the perfect retreat for nobles and, later, newly enriched entrepreneurs who wanted to escape the city - but still be close enough to manage their assets.
In Como they created a surreal world, celebrating the classic themes of a romanticized past, mixed with the new sensibilities of their time.
They competed with each other to have the most unique facades and exotic gardens.
It was not just a status symbol, but the pursuit of harmony that guided their visions. This philosophy is well expressed in the simple words of famous designer Alvar Aalto:
"Beauty is the harmony of purpose and form"
Still today, this position is great if you want to also visit Milan and take advantage of one of the best shopping experiences in Italy! We brought our weekender bag for a flawless transition from sailing to city walking. Everybody is very fashionable in Italy, so we too wanted to join purpose and form, practicality and beauty.
The village of Brunate is a great example of a hill town where the nobles used to spend their summers in order to escape the hot months of Milan. They even built a funicular, still active today, that in only 7 minutes takes you up the mountain.
The view from the “faro”, or lighthouse, is priceless. This monument, like many others in Como, is dedicated to Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the battery, who happened to be a native of Como.
THE LEGEND
At sunset, the lake changes its character as fog sets in. This is the perfect time to explore the legend told by the local folks.
Like Loch Ness, also Lake Como has its own monster. Its name is Lariosauro, and the interesting fact is that there is actual evidence to its existence!
In 1946, two fishermen spotted a strange creature, 10-12 metres long, with the shape of a giant lizard, with palmed feet and skin similar to a crocodile. This was only one of many sightings, the last one happening in 2003 and reporting a very similar description of a giant reptile. The creature was named Lariosauro from a prehistoric fossil, the Lariosaurus Balsami, found on the shore of the lake and now displayed in the natural history museum of Munich (there was also a second specimen in Milan, but it was destroyed during the bombings in 1943). This fossil, smaller in size compared to the recent sightings, might have been an ancestor of the presumed monster of today.
“An ocean without unnamed monsters would be like sleep without dreams.”
John Steinbeck
Perhaps, in this case, legend might have some truth to it. After all, the lake remains widely unexplored, being one of the deepest lakes in Europe at over 400 metres (1,300 ft) deep, and the deepest outside Norway.
CONCLUSION
