Tax Evasion - a national pastime

Having lived in Italy for 16 years, I have never really had any dealings with the Guardia di Finanza - those scary plain-clothes officers who have huge powers of stop and search….. until last week - when I left a hotel, after checking in some guests and was stopped by an ID-flashing GDF plain-clothes, requesting to see a receipt for whatever I had purchased. Fortunately I did not even have a cup of coffee there. If I had done, I would have had to produce the receipt to prove that the seller had put it through the till and that I had paid for it!

Seems a lot of effort for a €1.30 cappucino.

 There must be more effective ways of tracking down tax-evasion - like the recent weekend blitz in Courmayeur when under-cover officers donned skis to check that the mountain top eateries were issuing receipts, while another 60 colleagues were checking up in the village below.

Mario Monti is taking tax evasion seriously. As well he might, given that the practice of not issuing receipts alone costs the Italian Treasury 120bn a year! Last year a similar crackdown by the Agenzia delle Entrate (Tax collections agency) recovered nearly 12bn.

Another raid in the ski resort of Cortina showed that many luxury car owners (251 to be precise) were declaring an annual income of less than €30,000 per annum.

Don’t let any of this discourage you from visiting this wonderful country. As a visitor all you need to do is to make sure that you get a receipt for everything that you buy and keep hold of that until you have left the shop and moved on, so that if you are stopped, you simply produce the receipt and off you go.

Lunch in Laglio for only 11 euros!

All this for only 11 euro - today's menu:

Papardelli with spek and zola
Conchigle sugo nonna
Sedani pancetta e funghi
Risotto melanzane
……………………………….
Stinco vino bianco
Tacchino ai ferri
Milanese
Pizzaiola
…………………………….
Insalata verde o mista
Pomodoro
Patate al forno
Verdure ai ferri o burro

You can join the local tradesmen and craftsmen for a superb 2 course lunch including 1/4 litre of wine or 1/2 litre of water and coffee for only 11 euro per person. The food is freshly home cooked each day between 12 and 2pm. Go after 12.45 be sure of a table - at 12 o'clock it is jam-packed with workers.

The menu changes each day and usually consist of 3-4 pasta dishes for starters and a choice of 4 main courses, mainly meat and a choice of at least 4 accompaniments - salad, vegetables, potatoes etc. You do not go home hungry, that's for sure. How the workers keep their eyes open in the afternoon after all that food, I have no idea.

Now you will want to know where it is – it looks just like a roadside bar and is located on the main lake road, just at the junction of the lower and upper lake roads where you turn down to the Laglio lakeside.

The name….Bar Trattoria Saggitario – buon appetito!

Remember it is a workers lunch menu, so don't expect anything fancy - just good, wholesome, home-cooked food

Lake Como Restaurant Guide updated summer 2011

New restaurants open and close all the time on Lake Como, but the following remain firm favourites with both locals and tourists.

On Lake Como as elsewhere in Italy, there is a huge variety of places to eat, from small family-run Osteria and Trattoria to top-class restaurants. Here are just a few that we have tried and tested over the years, which you may not discover on your own (listed from Como town going north up the western shore). Menus are usually in English, but watch out for the cover charge or ‘coperto’ which is an extra per person charge. Many of these restaurants close out of season (November to February), so get your hotel to call in advance and reserve a table for you.

Key - based on 2 people having 2 courses (except for pizzerias) including ½  litre of house wine

€ up to 30                    €€ 30-50                      €€€ 50-80                    €€€€ 80 -100+

Como Town

€€ Il Pomodorino      

Via Cinque Giornate, 62b       031 240 384     ristoranteilpomodorino.it        open 7/7

Located in the cobbled back-streets of Como town, but well signposted. Offers a large selection of all home-made produce including the pasta and the bread as well as a varied menu including meat, fish, pasta and pizza (wood oven).

€€ - €€€ Il Pepe Nero

Via Pietro Boldoni, 26                        031 260333     pepenerocom.com                   open 7/7

Very central and easy to find, opposite the Coin store behind Piazza Cavour. Has both indoor and outdoor seating. Good selection of dishes and wines. Stylish dining atmosphere (no pizza).

€ - €€ Taverna Spagnola

Piazza Volta 33/Via Grassa                031 272 460                                        closed Wednesday

Just off Piazza Volta, down a side street. As the name suggests, this is a Taverna, not a restaurant (although it is not actually Spanish), with freshly cooked, fast/simple dishes – pasta, meat and huge pizzas. Tables are wooden and the atmosphere is usually buzzing. You can eat till late, often until midnight. Good food at a very reasonable price – always full of locals.

€ Il Messicano

Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini, 6                031 266 204 ‎                                                   open 7/7

If you just want a pizza, this is the best in Como, hence the long queues of Italians! The pizzas served on huge oval wooden platter, are thin and crispy and there is a huge choice. Pasta and salads are also available.

€€ Le Colonno (part of the Hotel del Duca)

Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini,                   031 264 859    albergodelduca.it                              open 7/7

Run by the same family for 15 years, the Santarelli’s, this cosy, friendly restaurant offers traditional Italian cuisine, specialising in fish. They also do excellent pizzas.

€€ Loft  

Via Boldoni 3                                        031 267846              open 7/7 (lunch)                                                                                                                                               

A panoramic restaurant & bar on the 5th floor of the ‘Coin’ store just behind Piazza Cavour. Serves great food, as well as cakes for afternoon tea. Only open at lunch-time with daily menus, great on Sundays. It’s worth popping in just for a coffee or a drink for the view over the roof tops of Como.

Cernobbio (one of the more pricey towns to dine)

€€ - €€€ Albergo Centrale                                                                               

Via Regina, 39                                    031 511 411    albergo-centrale.com                       open 7/7

A great location on the main road running through Cernobbio, very central and always excellent food, with a great choice of pasta, meat and fish dishes (no pizza).

€€ - €€€ Harry’ Bar

Piazza Risorgimento, 2             031 512 647                                                    closed Tuesday

Very popular with well-heeled Italians. A stylish lakefront restaurant in the main piazza. Attentive service and a quite pricey menu. Superb for dining al fresco. (no pizza)

€€ - €€€ Il Ghatto Nero

Via Monte Santo, 69                  031 512 042         il-gatto-nero.it                  closed Monday

Located in the hills above Cernobbio, affording stunning views of the lake below and the city of Como. Popular with Villa D’Este guests, the food is always excellent, with a huge choice of menu and an excellent wine list. Set on various levels, it has a very intimate atmosphere. Ask for a lake-view table outside on the terrace in summer. (no pizza)

€€€ - €€€€ Villa D’Este, Veranda Restaurant

Via Regina, 40                        031 3481         villadeste.com                                     open 7/7

Hailed as one of the best hotels in the world by Travel & Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler and Forbes Traveler, this represent luxurious, attentive, formal lakeside dining. Dine either protected by huge glass windows which disappear into the ground in the summer or al fresco. Open for both lunch and dinner (don’t forget your jacket and tie in the evenings). Traditional Italian haute cuisine with an extensive wine list and a knowledgeable sommelier. (no pizza)

Moltrasio

€€€ Imperialino

Via Regina Vecchia 24           031 346 111    hotel-lago-como-imperiale.com        closed Monday

The restaurant is part of the 4 star hotel Imperialino and is mentioned in the Michelin Guide 2010. The lakeside location is romantic and the food is traditional Italian with an imaginative interpretation. Popular with businessmen at lunch-time and for candle-lit dinners in the evening. (no pizza)

Carate Urio

€€ Orso Bruno

Via Regina, 45                        031 400 136    hotel orso bruno.com                        closed Monday

Lake view restaurant (part of small hotel) on the lower lake road. Attentive service from the husband and wife team. A varied menu with pizza, pasta, steaks and both lake and sea fish.                             

Laglio

€€- €€€ La Locanda del Cantiere

Via Vecchia Regina, 91          031 401 400    lalocandadelcantiere.it                      closed Tuesday

An interesting restaurant located in a former boatyard, located on the lower lake road and run by Father and 2 sons. The restaurant has huge windows overlooking the lake and an outside dining area in the summer. The varied menu changes weekly and there is a lunch-time specials menu at a reasonable set price.

€ Bar Il Saggitario

Via Regina Nuova 6               n/a                   n/a                                                       closed Tuesday

If you are looking for a real local experience and want to sample food cooked by mam and served up to the local workmen at lunch time only for the princely sum of €12 for 2 courses including house wine. There is no menu, as it changes daily, but there is usually 3-4 choices of pasta, followed by 3-4 main courses. It is more of a café/bar than a restaurant, but the food is always good.

Argegno

€ Il Lido

Via Lungo Telo destra            031 821 100    n/a                                                       closed Tuesday

Serving only pizza, salad or mixed meats, the menu is basic, but extremely well-priced and the location is lakefront with a lawned area to dine outside during the summer.

€€ - €€€ La Piazetta

Piazza Roma, 6                       031 821 110    piazzettargegno.it                                closed Monday

Offers a welcoming and stylish interior in the winter and al fresco dining in the piazza in the summer. The seasonal menu is always with a twist - pasta with unusual sauces, blackened salmon, fresh tuna, seafood risotto or chestnut risotto in the winter, as well as crispy based pizzas & home-made bread. They even offer a free taxi ride home if you are staying locally.

€€ (lunch) - €€€ (eve) Hotel Belvedere                    

Via Statale                              031 821 116    villabelvedereargegno.it                      open 7/7

Lovely outdoor, lakeside setting on a nice day for a light lunch. The menu is limited, but tasty and the setting is lovely. The menus is more varied but also much more expensive in the evening (more so than the other restaurants in Argegno), so only worth a visit if you can sit outside on the lakeside terrace as the interior is a little dated.

€€ - €€€ Barchetta

Piazza Roma, 2           031 821 105    www.ristorantebarchetta.it                         closed Monday

Try the menu Degustazione at €29 to sample some local specialities. The menu changes according to the season, so you will find pizzoccheri, chestnuts and porcini in the winter and fresh asparagus, artichokes and seafood in the summer. Their all-year round speciality is fillet steak with porcini mushrooms and potatoes.

Sala Comacina

€€€ La Tirlindana

Piazza Matteotti, 5      0344.56637      ristorantelatirlindana.com                        closed Monday

A delightful location in the piazza, overlooking Isola Comacina. Run by a husband and wife team of French-Spanish chef (Patrizia) and husband Freddie, a French-Italian, the food reflects their eclectic mix of cultures. Everything is home-made. Try the lemon ravioli. Portions are not large, so you can easily eat all 3 courses. The desserts are delicious.

€€€ Locanda del Isola

Isola Comacina           0344 55083     comacina.it                                                     closed Tuesday

Located on the only island on Lake Como, this is a real experience. This is where all the stars go when they visit the area!  The menu has not changed since 1947 and today you get the same 5-course menu for €64pp including as much wine as you like. It is massive meal, so make sure you are hungry and is available at either lunch or dinner time from April to October. You even get a short history of the island during the coffee ceremony, presented twice daily by the unforgettable Benvenuto. Note: credit cards are not accepted. To get there you park in Sala Comacina and get the water taxi across.

€€ - €€€ La Comacina          

Via Statale, 14                        0344 55035     ristorantelacomacina.it             closed Monday

On the main road by the bank in Sala Comacina, a stylish restaurant with a lovely balcony overlooking the lake. Run by a husband and wife team, Gianni and Cristina, it serves home-made pasta, fish of the lake and steaks, as well as seasonal dishes and special theme nights e.g truffles or suckling pig. Also closed on Thursday during the winter.

Ossuccio

€€ Crotto La Sorgente

Via P. Castelli, 5         0344 55270     crottolasorgente.com                           closed Tuesday

You would never just stumble across this ‘secret’ restaurant. Dating back to 1962, it is actually a trout farm in the hills above Ossuccio. Full of rustic charm, and featuring river trout, fished daily from fresh water beds provided by the nearby Perlana waterfall – smoked, dried (missoltino – a lake speciality), grilled or served with sage and butter- all served along with a health dollop of polenta.  If you book in advance you can order sausages, pork ribs, cassoella (cassoulet) or Brassato (melt in the mouth beef braised in red wine).

Lenno

€€€ Lido di Lenno

Via Comoedia, 1         0344 57 093    lidodilenno.com                                              Open 7/7

Located on the angle of the bay of Lenno, where they have constructed a beach/lido area as well as a stylish nightclub on the beach with Bedouin tents! A haunt of Milanese footballers, this restaurant is only open in the summer, as it is set in a marquee. The menu changes regularly, based on fresh local produce, they also have a BBQ grill for meat and seafood. Offers an international menu and an excellent wine list – over 100 different wines from all over the world.

€ - €€ Il Cris

Via Armando Diaz, 7              0344 55 131                                                                closed Tuesday

An excellent find, just off the beaten track, down a narrow driveway, just above Lenno. A well-kept secret, here you will find great pizzas, excellent pasta, amazing steaks and seafood (try the seafood basket – a seafood stew served in a pizza-base bread basket).

€€ Hotel Plinio

Viale C. Lomazzi, 3    0344 55158                                                                closed Wednesday

With a lake front terrace in the pedestrian lake-front of Lenno, they serve a daily set menu with home-made pasta, meat and lake fish dishes. A good venue for lunch on Lenno market day (Tuesday), followed by a trip to Villa Balbianello.

Tremezzo

€€ - €€€ La Darsena

Via Regina, 3              0344 43166     www.centrohotelslagocomo.it/darsena_tremezzo       open 7/7

The restaurant is part of the hotel and is located right at the front in a stunning lake front position overlooking Bellagio. Indoor dining with panoramic lake-view windows or outdoor dining, so be sure to book a table on the terrace in the summer. The menu changes regularly and is based on local, seasonal produce.

€€€ - €€€€ Grand Hotel Tremezzo

Via Regina, 8              0344 42491     grandhotel tremezzo.com                                            open 7/7

Refined al carte dining at the 5 star hotels La Terrazza lake-view restaurant. The terrace offers stunning views of Bellagio, almost directly opposite and very romantic with its twinkling lights in the evening. Dress code of smart, casual attire (no jeans).

Tremezzo (Frazione Roghero)

€€ Fagurida Trattoria

Via St Martino, 15      0344 40676                                                                 closed Monday

A real local and rustic experience with platters of meats, cheeses, polenta and braised beef brassato), with wine in earthenware jugs. Try the antipasti della casa. Ask for a table with a view.

€€ - €€€ Il Velu

Via Rogaro, 17            0344 40510     alveluu.com                                         closed Tuesday

Stunning views and good food from this elegant restaurant perched on a hill in a hamlet above Tremezzo.

Menaggio

Menaggio is one of the larger resorts and as such offers a large selection of restaurants. If you are staying there, ask your hotel for their reccomendations or if you are visiting just for the evening, go early, have an aperitivo in one of the lake-front bars (suggest Hotel du Lac), then browse the menus displayed outside each restuarant and take your pick, depending on taste and budget.

Aquaseria

Crème Caramel

Via Molino Nuovo 7   0344 50932                                                                 closed Wednesday

Down on the lakefront in Aquaseria is a real gem, the Crème Caramel. In summer they have tables so close to the lake that you can almost touch it and they serve some of the best pizzas for miles around, but only in the evenings. The lunch-time is a set menu at €15 with good home-cooking and a choice of daily specials.

The 'must have guide' to bring with you on holiday to Italy

Print off these useful tips & tricks and bring it with you on your next trip to Italy



Banks & cash machines:

Opening hours vary, but approx. 08.20-13.30 & 14.30-16.00 Monday to Friday. Most towns will have a cash machine outside the bank where you can obtain cash on cash cards and all Visa/MasterCard Credit Cards with your PIN number. If you wish to change money in the bank, you will be asked to show your passport.

Bars and Aperitivo time:

Most bars offer free nibbles (aperitivi) with drinks between 18.00 and 19.30. They are usually laid out on the bar for you to help yourselves and there is no limit to what you can take.

Buses:

Public transport is relatively cheap in Italy. Bus tickets cannot be purchased on the bus, but must be bought from a tabac/tabaccheria. A one-way ticket is 'solo andata' and a return ticket is 'andata e ritorno'

Coffee and Brioche

The price of a coffee, cappuccino or brioche is set by law in each area. So if you stand at the bar to drink/eat you will pay a lot less than if you sit down (as this is not regulated). For example, in Lombardia (Lake Como), a coffee at the bar will cost you only 90 cents. If you want to drink a longer, weaker coffee, ask for a cafe americano. All coffees are served black in Italy unless you specify otherwise e.g. 'con latte' (with milk). Cappucino is usually served luke-warm, so that it can be drunk quickly. If you prefer it hotter, simply ask for 'multo caldo'.

Driving in Italy:

Always carry your passport and all documents relating to the car. Indeed always carry your passport with you as a form of identification. It is compulsory to carry an emergency triangle and a high visibility jacket in your vehicle.

The speed limit on Italian motorways is 130km/h, 110km/h on most dual carriageways and 90km/h on normal roads. Check the road signs carefully, as fines are heavy. Seat belts are compulsory both front and rear. Italy has stricter drink driving laws than the UK, only allowing 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood (UK 0.8). Headlights

All vehicles are required to keep their low-beam lights on at all times on motorways and four-lane highways. Scooters and motorbikes must keep their headlights on at all times and on all types of roads. High-beam headlights can be used only outside cities and towns and when no vehicle is approaching; otherwise use only low-beam. When a stationary vehicle is not clearly visible, parking lights must be kept on. Mobile phones may only be used if the phones are equipped with an earpiece. Important note – if an Italian driver flashes his lights at you, it is not a signal for you to go ahead. It is rather a warning that he is coming through and wants you to keep out of his way. If you are travelling to a ski resort in winter, it is obligatory that you carry snow chains.

Emergency numbers:

112 - local police station (Carabinieri).

113 emergency helpline – police, ambulance and fire

116 ACI (Italian Automobile Club) for roadside assistance

Hire cars:

Many hire car companies have very high collission waiver damage charges. If you hire cars regularly, you can save money by taking out an annual policy instead and paying a yearly fee of around £70. Also, many hire car companies charge you extra for the use of their high visibility jackets (even though it is law that you carry them). So save money and bring your own.

Hospitals:

Being a member of the EEC, you can obtain NHS-style treatment free of charge In Italy, on production of your European Health Insurance Card, which is available on-line from www.dh.gov.uk. You must take this with you to avoid being charged at the hospital. You may be asked to pay a percentage of the charge, as not everything is 100% recoverable.

Insurance claims:

If you loose anything whilst in Italy and need to claim back from your insurers, they will ask you for a police report. This is obtained from your local Carabinieri (police station) and is called a 'denuncia'. You will be required to make a statement and show your passport.

Mobile Phones:

As long as your phone is GSM it will work in Italy, but you may need to ring your service provider before leaving the UK in order to activate it. You will often pay substantial roaming charges to make and receive phone calls and texts when abroad.

Motorways:

There are tolls on all motorways, except in southern Italy from Salerno south, so it is useful to carry small change with you. Tolls can also be paid by credit card (use the Viacard lane). DO NOT use the Telepass lane as this is an automatic barrier for drivers with an automated device.

Paying by credit card:

When paying by credit card it is normally preferable to pay in the local currency, rather than let the shop/restaurant convert it back into your own currency. This way you pay the bank rate applicable on the day the transaction is processed by your bank, rather than a rate applied by the seller (which is usually less advanatgeous). If your credit card does not have your photograph on, you may be asked to show some other form of identification e.g. passport or driving licence.

Pedestrian Crossings:

Do not assume that a driver will stop if you step out - the black and white lines are purely for decoration in Italy - or so it seems!

Pharmacies:

Many drugs (including antibiotics) can be bought over the counter without a prescription. Basic medication such as aspirin can ONLY be bought in pharmacies and not in supermarkets.

Post Offices:

Stamps (francobolli) can only be bought in the post office or in the ‘tabac/tabaccheria’. Normal mail to the UK takes approx. 7 days to arrive in the UK, but there is also a faster version for urgent mail (2 days) – called ‘Priorita’, which costs a little more. You can also send things recorded delivery (quite expensive) – 'raccomandata'

Power supply:

The power supply in Italy is 220 volts, so you will need a 2-pin adaptor. Most domestic properties run off a 3 kilowat supply, so if you are staying in a private home or renting a villa or apartment, you will not be able to use your hairdrier and a large appliance at the same time e.g oven, as this will trip the system. The 'salva-vita' or trip swich is normally located by the front door, and will require pushing back up, if it does trip. If this does not solve the problem, then it has tripped at the main power box, which can normally be found outside in a grey cabinet labelled 'Enel'.

Queuing:

Do not expect Italians to wait in an orderly line for anything - it's every man for himself!

Receipts:

You are required by law to get a receipt for everything that you purchase, even a loaf of bread or a coffee. The Guardia di Finazia (finance/tax police) have the right to stop you and fine both you and the proprietor if you leave a bar, shop, restaurant etc. without a receipt.

Restaurants:

A typical Italian meal would consist of Antipasto (mixed meats etc), pasta course (primi), and a meat/fish main course (secondi). Portions do therefore tend to be smaller than in the UK/US and the main course is not normally served with vegetables (they are ordered separately as a ‘contorno’). Steaks are traditionally served rare, so if you like it 'well done' ask for 'ben cotto' or 'sensa sangue' (without blood). Always look out for the cover ‘coperta’ charge on the menu as this is an extra per person cost. Some restaurants will charge an extra percentage on top of the menu price for sitting outside (can be as much as 20%), so check the small print on the menu displayed outside the restaurant.

Many restaurants in tourist locations will offer a menu turistico (tourist menu) consisting of 2 or 3 courses, often including wine and coffee, at a set price. In all locations, you will also find menu di lavoro or workers menu. This is available to all and is usually like a tourist menu, at a set price (usually under 15 euros) and is available to all. There will usually be a separate part of the restaurant designated for this, without fancy table cloths and glass ware.

Safety:

Petty theft is on the increase in Italy, particularly in cities and in the airports, so never leave valuable items in your car and be very careful with your handbag/wallet. Thieves often work in twos with one distracting you while the other relieves you of your suitcase/wallet etc. Another favourite trick on motorways, is for a car to come along side you, signalling you to pull over and indicating that you have a problem, so that when you pull over, one of them can steal your belongings from the vehicle, whilst the other points out the 'problem' on your car.

Supermarkets:

There is a wide variety, ranging from corner shops to large hypermarkets. Wine, alcohol and cigarettes (only available from tabac/tabaccheria) are generally much cheaper than in the UK, and as you are purchasing them duty paid, there are no limits on quantities (as long as they are for your own use). Larger supermarkets are at their quietest at lunch time (12.30-14.30). Smaller ones will close during lunch time.

Swimming pools and lidos:

It is essential to wear some form of swimming hat. These can usually be bought locally in the lido itself. Some pools will not allow men to wear loose, baggy short-style swim wear

Telephone Boxes:

Some are coin operated but most take phone cards available from newsagents, cigarette shops (tabaccheria) and post offices. Remember to tear the corner off before use. To dial the UK simply prefix the number with 0044 and omit the first 0 of your number.

Tipping:

Tipping in restaurants is not essential in Italy, as a service charge (coperto) is usually added to the bill.

Trains:

Train travel is relatively inexpensive and quite reliable. There is 1st class and 2nd class travel. On EC trains (faster, more luxurious trains), you need to book a seat either online or at the ticket office. A one-way ticket is 'solo andata' and a return ticket is 'andata e ritorno' Remember to validate your ticket in the yellow machine at the beginning of the platform, prior to getting on the train. Not to do so would incur a fine. Sitting in 1st class with a 2nd class ticket is also a fine-able offence. Thieves operate on trains, so keep a close eye on your belongings, especially your passport. Timetables and online bookings can be found on http://trenitalia.com/homepage_en.html. Remember to use the Italian names for your destinations e.g. Firenze instead of Florence.

In General:

It is worth remembering that Italy is very much a Mediterranean country in terms of attitude as well as geography; therefore don’t expect your telephone/central heating/car/plumbing to be repaired immediately. It is rare for things to happen immediately, domani (tomorrow) is possible, but dopo domani (the day after tomorrow) is more likely. Therefore patience is very much the keyword.

A driving trip to Lake Como by car or hire car

Although there are many lakes in Italy, the most famous are those in the area knows as the Italian Lake District in the north of the country. The 50 km long Lake Como, with its two "legs", is a perfect destination for an Italian driving/hire car holiday.

The drive from the UK is easy and motorway all the way to Como itself. If you take the route through Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland, via the Gothard pass/tunnel, the journey takes just 8 hours from Calais and avoids many expensive French motorway tolls. For a route, go to the RAC and download one for free.

If you prefer to fly, there are 3 airports to choose from. The closest to Como is Milan Malpensa, followed by Linate and then further afield, but still only just over an hour from Como, is Bergamo's Orio al Serio or Milan-Bergamo as Ryan Air have renamed it (it isn't actually even in Milan). You can then simply pick up a hire car on arrival. The drive to Como is straightforward and well sign posted – go to this directions page for more information. It will take you between 40 minutes and an hour to drive to the town of Como, which lies at the southern end of the western branch of the lake and makes a great starting-point for a driving tour.

Here are details of just some of the places that you can visit by car when visiting Lake Como.

Lake Como by car – Como town

Como town is a great place to stay for a day or two. Its historic attractions include the Duomo, Como's Cathedral, which dates back to the fourteenth century. There is also great shopping and many other historical sites in this beautiful walled town.

Como's museums include the Museo Didattico Della Seta, which traces the town's silk-making history, and Tempio Voltiano, a neo-classical temple which houses items related to the work of physicist Alessandro Volta, who lived in Como.

You can also take a break from your hire car by relaxing in one of the cafes in Piazza Cavour or taking a boat trip on Lake Como itself to admire the stunning lakeside villas, including Villa Oleandra (George Clooney), Villa Fontanella (ex-Versace) and Villa Casinella (Richard Branson)

Lake Como by car - Bellagio

Once you have explored Como, head north-west to Bellagio, nestled in the fork of the southern part of Lake Como. It will take you about 40 minutes to drive from Como along the vertiginous narrow roads to Bellagio.

Bellagio was one of the first internationally-known tourist resorts in Italy and is known as "the Pearl of the Lake". Park your hire car and stroll through the cobbled streets, wander along the lime tree and oleander-lined promenade and stop for a bite to eat in one of Bellagio's many restaurants.

The famous Hotel du Lac, which overlooks the piazza on the lakefront, and the historic five-star Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, will give you a taste of the opulence and glamour traditionally associated with Bellagio.

Lake Como by car - Bellano

On leaving Bellagio, you can drive southwards along the eastern leg of Lake Como and then north, back up the other side of the lake, or you can take your car on the ferry from Bellagio to Varenna. The town of Bellano is about five minutes' drive from Varenna.

Bellano is a pretty village, situated on the lakefront, and you can wander through its streets and alleys, and see some beautiful examples of medieval and Baroque architecture. There are also some excellent restaurants in and around Bellano.

Lake Como by car - Menaggio

You can either continue to drive north from Bellano to the far end of Lake Como and then drive southwards along the west shore of the lake, or you can take your car on the ferry to Menaggio.

Menaggio is a small, but popular, tourist resort, which has hotels, restaurants and a beach. It has an attractive town square and you can take a stroll along the lakeside promenade. There are also plenty of sporting activities available in and around Menaggio.

Lake Como by car – Lake Lugano

Just over the hill from Menaggio is Lake Lugano, so take a 30 minute detour and visit 2 lakes in one day and wander the stylish streets of this wealthy banking centre.