Your Best Breaks

Monday

Get to know the northern end of the Lake. Take the bus line C10 from Menaggio (bus stop in Piazza Roma 8.27, 9.30, 10.30, 11.50) to Dongo. Get off at Piazza Parracchini where Palazzo Manzi stands where you find the tourist office. At Dongo Mussolini was captured in 1945 by the local partisans. Visit the Romanesque church S. Maria in Martinico. Behind the church lies the picturesque built up area called Barbignano with it’s narrow cobble stone streets. Near the parish church of S.Stefano a nice lake side walk (1 h ). connecting Dongo with Gravedona starts. At Gravedona visit the beautiful church S. Maria del Tiglio and the old town centre. On the lake stands the elegant Palazzo Gallio. Walk up to the church of S. Maria delle Grazie and to the church S. Gusmeo from where you have a nice view of the lake.
Tuesday
 h.9.00-12.30 Market in Lenno; you can reach Lenno by bus line C10 (8.27 - 9.32 – 10.37) h. !0.00-18.00 After the market visit the beautiful 17th century Villa Balbianello at Lenno. In order to reach the
Wednesday
villa you take a taxi boat from the Lido of Lenno € 7,00 return ticket. From Lenno you can walk to the Santuario della Madonna del Soccorso along the famous alley way with the 14 chapels dedicated to the rosary, Monument of Human Inheritance. Circular walk of 1h30. Ask for the description
Visit Lake Lugano. Take the bus line C12 from Menaggio from the bus stop in Via Lusardi or Piazza Roma – 8.27, 10.37 11.43 to the town Lugano. From the bus stop walk through the beautiful parco Ciani. From Piazza Riforma with its colourful cafés, walk through via Nassa, Lugano’s famous shopping street. At the end of via Nassa visit the church
Thursday
S. Maria degli Angeli with its beautiful frescos.
Take the bus line C10 (8.27, 9.32, 10.37) to Como and visit the antique centre within the medieval walls. Till 12.30 there is a market along the city walls. Walk along the lake to the beautiful Villa Olmo where you can visit the painting exhibition of Boldini and the Belle Epoque open from 9.00 till 22.00. Entry fee € 10,00. With this ticket you have free admission to following museums of Como Museo Archeologico Giovio, piazza Medaglie d’Oro, Museo Storico Garibaldi, piazza Medaglie d’Oro, Museo didattico della Seta, Castelnuovo, 9 Pinacoteca Civica, via Diaz, 84Tempio Voltiano, Lungo Lario Marconi Ask for the town map at your local tourist office.
Friday
A guided tour of Como starts from the Info-point in Via Maestri Comacini on the south side of the cathedral (€ 8,00). To have a good view of the town take the funicular to Brunate.. Turn back by bus, or hydrofoil
Small market at Menaggio on the parking in via Stoppani till 12.00. Follow the historic itinerary through Menaggio of about 1 hr. (ask for the leaflet) you can also extend your walk to the hamlet of Nobiallo, a typical fishermen’s village or Loveno with it’s beautiful villas. If you have children you can ask for the puzzle tour through the town.
We highly recommend the scenic bus ride from Menaggio to Breglia 7 km (bus line C 13). (12.30, 13.50) There is a bar - Restaurant at Breglia From Breglia you can walk to the Santuario della Madonna di Breglia (15 min) or to S. Domenico (35 min) Superb views.
h. 15.00
Saturday
 Market at Porlezza. Take the bus line C12 to Porlezza (10.37) or line C14 at 9.45. h 12.35 or 15.05 take the scenic bus ride from Porlezza into the Val Cavargna with bus line C14 as
far as the village Cavargna at 1000m, small mountain village where you visit the ethnographical museum of the Valley. There are some bars and restaurants in the village. Last bus back from Cavargna to Menaggio at 16.55
N.B Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 April special opening of the churches San Giacomo at Livo and Sant’Eusebio at Peglio above Gravedona from 15.00 – till 18.00 ask for the car route
Sunday
Green Way and Island Comacina. Take bus line C10 to Colonno (10.37) where the Green Way starts – an easy walk through some lovely hamlets, ask for the leaflet. At Ossuccio (1h.30 from Colonno)., you can walk down to church of S. Maria Magdalena at Ospedaletto from where you can take a taxi boat to the Island Comacina the only one of the lake rich in history (boat fee € 5,00 + € 5,00 entry fee to the Island, tickets at the Antiquarium museum next to the church It is possible to do a guided visit of the Island and of Villa Leoni at Ossuccio. Cost € 18,50 including the boat fair. Reservation required tel. 0344 56369. Meeting point with the guide at the Antiquarium From Ossuccio you can continue the walk on the Green Way as far as Lenno (1h30). From Lenno return by bus line C10, boat or hydrofoil