After the blistering temps yesterday, we had a brief rain shower around midnight that seems to have reduced temps today. We enjoyed another fantastic breakfast and decided to test our walking legs again.
We started out from the center of town, past the Town Hall and Romanesque church of San Giorgio. We took the cobblestone stairs along the edge of town and headed Pescallo. Once a fishing village and fish market. At the beginning of the 13th Century it was the largest village and offered the largest quantity of fish for market. This village looks out onto the Lecco branch of the lake with marvelous views of the top of Grigna (2,409 meters high.) We pass by nursery gardens with is second to tourism in importance to the economy of Bellagio. The plants produced here are sold all over Europe.
We travel olive groves that have been cultivated in this region since Roman times. Como is also the farthest north point in Europe where olives are grown. Our stroll continues past Villa Camuzia and on to Regatola, home of famous Como scientist, Alessandro Volta (inventor of the voltaic cell in 1799) and the poet Guiseppe Parini.
Further on we make our way to Guggiate and the Hotel Silvio that offered glimpses of the lake framed by lovely old cypress trees. We pass a fantastic historic Mausoleum where descendents of the family Gonzaga of Mantova are burried.
Of course there were the beautiful churches that have been here for hundreds of years. There is modern construction too, even a Rowing School that boasts 6 world champions to date. Further on we make our way to Guggiate and Loppia. We get to see examples of Larian Gondolas which were used to transport goods and animals until as recently as the end of the 19th Century. We end our walk at the Gardens of Francesco Melzi. This is an amazing garden. Spectacular sculptures, pristine gardens, beautiful blooming azaleas and rhododendrons. The family Chapel and small museum are breathtaking. What a way to end the morning!
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