Despite the recession and the woes of the EURO, the Italian real estate and tourism market still remains incredibly buoyant. The high equity to value ratios have ensured that the property crashes as seen in Spain and other countries have not materialized here.  Lake Como’s exclusivity and popularity with the rich ensures continued value.

We would love to see you in 2012 and enjoy with us the splendour of Lake Como.

Marketing: Holiday Homes

Real Estate: HPS

Management: HHH

Lake Como Rentals
Lake Maggiore Rentals
Lake Lugano Rentals

Buon Natale Lago di Como

or if you fancy some skiing then check out our Livigno Rentals and local information or see the local Livigno website for more information

Livigno Italian Skiing

Created by “Discovery Holiday Homes” holiday homes marketing partners.

This newsletter also includes ski properties in Livigno from Livigno Holiday Homes.

October Newletter

Lake Como Powerboats

The Italian Grand Prix 2011′s location has now been confirmed by H2O Racing. The event will take place on Lake Como (Lago di Como) in the town of Cernobbio. The Grand Prix will be round three of the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship and will run from 14-16 October.

The announcement is of particular significance for Class 1 promoter Nicolò di San Germano – whose F1H2O series raced on Lake Como 11 times between 1981 and 2006 – marking the first new venue to be brought into the Championship by H2O Racing and the first ever round of the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship to be staged on Lake Como. ‘We are delighted to be taking our sport back to Lake Como and to Cernobbio with World Championship status,’ he said. ‘It is very fitting for us to be racing in such a spectacular location and one that is entrenched with powerboat history and associated with racers of both the past and the future of racing.’

See more on Discover Como

or see last years powerboats in the bay of  Naples

Lake Como, being in Italy, celebrates Easter with fervor and in many traditional ways.

To celebrate Easter we have created a Prize Draw Quiz, to win a holiday for two and a 1/2 day boat hire on Lake Como courtesy of Lake Como Homes and Happy Holiday Homes. The quiz has 14 questions about the Lake, its people, is history and more, embellished with some fantastic photographs as backdrop.

Easter Quiz

WALKING, HIKING, TREKKING

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1. Colonno – Sala Comacina

The route begins at Colonno:  their is chapel to the left (car park) following the signs for the Greenway route which runs via the Lake  and leads into the countryside. After a descent to the lake and town that bears the main square (about 200 m) take the bridge over the river Pessetta, and continue uphill from the town.

Continue to Comacina along on the track  found halfway up an old road that runs through Regina. Here there are small plots of terraced olive groves, offering sweeping views of the lake. After about 35 minutes pleasant walk you will enter into Comacina arriving at the chapel of San Rocco.

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2. Sala Comacina – Isola Di Ossucio

From the chapel of San Rocco (from which descends a set of step to the medieval old town and the harbor, 300 m or so), the Greenway route continues on the old road  with a beautiful views over the lake and the island Comacina. After walking across a bridge over the valley of Premonte, you will enter the town of Ossuccio and descend towards the village of Spurrier after crossing the road. On reaching the church of S. James walk back across the road and climb to the sanctuary of the Madonna del Soccorso.

At the intersection with Via Castelli  continue right through the town with views of the bell tower of Santa Maria Maddalena and after the roundabout  go down into the village of Isola and Villa Balbi. After the bridge over the river Perlana you arrive at Campo di Lenno.

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3. Isola Di Ossucio – Imbarcadero Di Lenno

This section of the walk begins in the town, after crossing the bridge over the river Perlanaenter  the narrow alleys and walk down to the lake. You will pass  the entrance of Villa Monastero * and then continue along the Dosso Lavedo on the right and the campground on the left. Shortly before the hotel you can take a detour  to Lavedo Balbianello Villa (1.1 km) or continue along the Greenway route to the Lido di Lenno. Now continue along the lake where there are ancient villas and to the square of  church of S. Stephen and the Baptistery of S. John. You can then reach the pier and the lake’s  ferry service.

* Or after Villa Monastero you can turn left, cross the highway on the footbridge and turn right on the route of Queen street to cross the road and reconnect to the Greenway along the lakeshore of Lake Lenno (variant of 700 m ).

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4.Imbarcadero Di Lenno- Bolvedro di Tremezzo

From the landing of Lemnos (parking places) take the bridge over  into the town of Pula Tremezzo which is along the lake behind the Hotel San Giorgio. Go up a cobbled lane and cross the road, then walk on go up to Mezzegra.

After about 10 minutes climb, you will exit onto Via Pola, crossing the route that comes from Tregole and then turn right. At the next intersection turn left into via Pola and  after the church of S. Joseph, continue towards the church of S. Abundance. here from the  square where you can enjoy a splendid view over the lake and on the promontory of Bellagio. Next take Via Palazzo Brentano down towards the lake and turn left in Via delle Gere. After the bridge over the river Bolvedro begin the descent toward the lake and then up to the crossroads at the end of Via Monte Grappa, the main road. Here you will find restaurants and bars in the village.

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5. Bolvedro di Tremezzo – Cadenabbia

The final stretch of the Lake Greenway is a fully protected lakeside walk on a path beside the main road. Immediately after you pass on the left, the  Bolvedro Villa La Quiete, continue on to the Villa Park Mayer. Leaving the park  pass under the portico of the hotel and continue along the lake until you pass the pier at Tremezzo (Cadenabbia) and onto to reach the old town of Tremezzo with its characteristic arcades, bars and shops.

There is a short but pleasant variation of about 350 m to this trip, allowing you to cross the lanes and back roads behind Tremezzo. Greenway just before the Grand Hotel Tremezzo and Villa Carlotta.

At the Grand Hotel Cadenabbia, the route continues towards the pier in Cadenabbia (with car service) and from the village of Majorca, where, near the Lido, the Greenway walk ends.

MOUNTAINS

The Italian Lakes provide a vast amount of walking and hiking trails. Lake Como is no exception. The fantastic panoramas achieved by walking a few miles (uphill admittedly) are well worth the effort. We cannot hope to show the full extent of the walks available, but Menaggio and Varenna, both at the centre of the lake and part of the golden triangle, allow enthusiats or day trippers to scale peaks or enjoy the countryside in many directions.The following is an example of a few walks from Menaggio, this one is up to Monte Grona, which from the top (1736 m) you can admire one of the best views of the Prealps; apart from the three lakes (Como, Lugano and Piano) you can also see the close by, the peaks of Monte Bregagno, Legnone, Pizzo di Gino, Grigne and if the air is clear enough, many peaks of the Alps from Monviso to Bernina. There are 3 different ways to get to the top of the Grona from Menaggio:

- VIA NORMALE – time: 1.15 hrs.; ascent: 336 m

the beginning of this trail (the easiest) is behind the rifugio in Menaggio. It leads up to the “Forcoletta” and from there to the left a steep rocky trail leads to the top.

- VIA DIRETTISSIMA – Time: 1 hr; ascent: 336m;

the beginning of this trail is behind the rifugio. The steep trail winds up the south face of the mountain. During the winter this trail, as it is exposed to the south, remains snow covered less time compared to the Via Normale on the north side of the mountain.

- VIA FERRATA – only for Alpinists with adequate equipment, time: 3 hrs. In order to reach the beginning of the Via Ferrata you follow part of the Via Panoramica.

The routes and more details are all available in booklet form from the local tourist offices and from the Lake Como who will be more than willing to help you enjoy the local scenery.

Monte De Breglia – The start of the climb to Rifugio and Monte Grona

DOWNLOADS

Below we are creating links to a number of walks and information that can be downloaded that refer to walks close to the Lake.

• HIKING AROUND LAKE COMO DOWNLOAD (PDF)