What Makes Lake Como So Special?

                                            Lake Como is much more than the sum of its parts

My ashes are to be scattered in Lake Como, so I admit that I’ve long been hooked on this al-di-la (Italian for “beyond the beyond”) spot as a final resting place.  But, what makes this glorious lake “beyond” so many other places of magical beauty in Italy?  Let me count the ways. 

                          Snow covered Alps create a striking year around backdrop 

First, there’s something about the dramatic combination of Como’s 50-shades-of-deep-blue water and the majestic range of the surrounding Italian-Swiss Alps.  Pair this with lush greenery, dripping bougainvillea, and swaying palm trees dotting the lake’s shore.  Add in marvelous light that changes throughout the day, and Lake Como’s stunning natural beauty takes on a cinematic feel.  Last, factor in the plethora of brightly colored homes along with exquisite villas---Como's landscape leaves one breathless.   

                                   Jaw-dropping villas dot Lake Como's shoreline

Como is more than the sum of its glorious parts.   A calming peace mixed with an air of exclusivity can be felt.  Lake Como offers a quieter and more genteel atmosphere in comparison to other Italian hot spots such as the Amalfi Coast or Portofino.  (It’s no wonder that the lake has been a long-time retreat for writers and composers, and more recently, for modern celebrities seeking calm privacy.) Even hotels and restaurants focus on a kind of refined low-key luxury.  And, there are no high-rise buildings.  Think small, chic, elite.

Bellagio is a popular stop for ferries & hydrofoils

Then, there’s the “boat culture.”   A small two lane road follows the lake’s fingers but it is the lake where the important transport takes place.  Ferries and small boats, offering the mind-boggling views of the lake, link most of the sleepy lakeside villages.  Moreover, sleek, small private boats abound and lakeside villas have their own private docks. 

                                Lake Como used to be home to Italy's entire silk industry

Small, charming lakeside hamlets also enchant with narrow cobblestone streets and lakeside cafes.  Bellagio, one of the lake’s jewel-like villages filled with boutiques and art galleries, is packed with day trippers from Milan during the summer, but even in the height of the season it reverts back to a captivating spot by early evening.  Each town has its own character, but they all share a relaxed, elegant vibe.  

                                     Even on an overcast day, Lake Como enchants

One can’t forget the last compelling factor that makes Lake Como special.  The area’s mild climate is a compelling reason to come, regardless of the time of year.  It is much warmer than the surrounding areas due to the microclimate created by the lake.  (The reason why palm trees and Mediterranean plants thrive here despite of the mountain setting).  

This once private villa will be the hotel for Wine-Knows in October

Wine-Knows with reserved spots on this autumn’s tour to northern Italy will be spending two nights on Lake Como in the quiet lakeside village where George Clooney has a villa.  In addition to a private dinner held on the shores of the lake, we’ll also be visiting Bellagio by boat.

Viva la dolce vita  of magical Lago di Como!

Buried Treasure---Truffles

                     Truffles grow underground & specially trained dogs are required to find them

October is the beginning of the season for the world’s most expensive culinary treasure, the white truffle.  Only grown in a small area near the Italian Alps called Piedmont, the white truffle (tartufo bianco) is the most fragrant and most intensely flavored of all of the many varieties of truffles.  For this reason it is often called the “King of truffles.”  Its step-sister, the not-as-fragrant-black truffle, is grown in several parts of the world, but it is the highly prized white truffle which gourmands around the world not only covet, but pay mega Euros to feast on this buried edible masterpiece.

                             The tartufo bianco is the most aromatic & flavorful of all truffles

All truffles are a type of an exotic fungus that grows underneath the ground near the roots of certain trees.  In Piedmont, Italy the white truffle variety grows commonly near the roots of hazelnut, oak, pine or beech trees.  Truffles, a kind of distant cousin of wild mushrooms, are found by special dogs who have been trained to smell these highly fragrant edibles which are concealed several inches under the forest’s floor.

Piedmont in October is one big love-fest with the white truffle.  The charming medieval town of Alba is home to the Truffle Festival, a decadent food gala celebrating the area’s famous white culinary diamonds.  Weekends are grid-lock with aficionados from around the world descending on Alba for a smell and taste of the intoxicating white truffle.   There is pageantry with parades, music, and dance---all to honor the illustrious tartufo bianco.  

                                     Alba's Truffle Festival is a do not miss event for foodies

 If you can’t make it to Piedmont for the Truffle Festival, the next best thing may be dining at a Michelin star restaurant somewhere in the world during the months of October or November.    Be prepared, however, to spend almost $100 more per dish for the addition of the white truffle.  This means a $50 pasta will become $150 with the tartufo bianco.

Buon appetito!