A house with garden, pool, tennis court and lake views

About Varenna and other lake towns: The lakeside town of Varenna with its pretty and colourful houses is only 10 min by car. Here you will find a lido with lake access, shops, restaurants, the ferry berth and a railway station. The sporting club in Varenna (3 km) has a pool and beach facilities. Menaggio, Bellaggio and Como can be reached by ferry. (There is a golf course in Menaggio - 15 min by ferry, 10 min by car). The trains departing from the railway station in Varenna takes you to the centre of Milan in one hour!

About the region: Lake Como is renowned for its exquisite villas, and probably the most famous one is Villa Carlotta, a perfect combination of a luxurious interior (beautiful stuccos, lovely ceiling frescoes and a great art collection, including an Eros and Psyche by Antonio Canova) and a luxuriant exterior (over 500 species of plants, trees and shrubs from all over the world). Tremezzo is another lovely lakeside town. Here you will find a classic lakeside promenade as well as many wonderful old villas, some of which have been converted to hotels. From here you can take a car ferry over to Bellaggio and Varenna on the opposite shore. On the southern shore is Bellaggio, la perla del lago (the pearl of the lake), considered by many to be the most beautiful town in all of Europe. Its narrow cobbled streets, breathtaking views, impeccable homes and marvellous villas make it a most enchanting spot to spend your own unforgettable 'month by the lake.'

Around Como: Lake Como is renowned for its luxuriant vegetation and its mild climate. In the winter, in the sunniest areas such as Tremezzina, the temperature is never too cold. In the summer it is moderated by a very pleasant breeze. In Como, you should plan to visit the cathedral, the Piazza San Fedele with many 400-year-old buildings, the basilica, the very austere church of San Abbondio as well as the early Romanesque basilica of San Corpoforo. Before leaving Como, be sure to take the funicular railway up to Brunate for a truly spectacular view. Leaving Como and travelling north along the left shore it is just a short drive to Cernobbio, whose old town features a delightful collection of picturesque houses and narrow alleys. This is the site of the fictional Villa Balbianello, the elegant family home and pensione featured in the film 'A Month by the Lake.' One of the grandest hotels in all of Europe is located nearby, the Villa d'Este.