Earlier this month, the Bookings For You team were on Lake Como checking out some new villas and apartments and putting them through their paces to see if they met our exacting standards. One villa stood out head and shoulders above the rest – Villa Belago. If you’re looking for a stunning villa on lake Como within walking distance of shops, restaurants and the waterfront, then our newest villa offering on Lake Como – Villa Belago – is the perfect villa for you.
Villa Belago is situated overlooking the pretty town of Bellano. It’s a town we absolutely love as you’ll find it far more authentic than many of its neighbours such as Varenna and Bellagio. Even though the town itself is not very large there is still plenty to do! For example, the villa is a quick 5 minute walk from the famous Orrido di Bellano, a stunning natural gorge and waterfall which dates back millions of years.
There are plenty of other beautiful walks and hikes to enjoy here too and the lakeside itself is just a 15 minute walk away. From here, you can catch a boat to a number of other lakeside towns and villages including Bellagio, Dervio, Varenna and more.
It’s also a great location for sports enthusiasts. In the Summer months, sailing, windsurfing and skysurfing are all possible in both Bellano and Dervio. And we would definitely recommend hiring a boat at the Bellano marina and getting out on the water for yourself. For those visiting in the Winter months, the nearest ski slopes are at the Skilift Alpe Giumello ski resort which is just 40 minutes away by car. Alternatively, the longer slopes of Saint Morritz in Switzerland are an hour and 40 minute drive away. The nearest airports are at Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa which are between a 60 and 80 minute drive away respectively.
If you fancy a faster pace of life, then Milan is just over an hour away by car and the upmarket Swiss city of Lugano on neighbouring Lake Lugano is just under a 90 minute drive. This is definitely where to head if you enjoy some glitz and glamour, with the rich and famous attracted here by the high end designer shops, upmarket restaurants and casino.
Bellano itself boasts a number of shops and also has three supermarkets to choose from for your weekly grocery shop. For those that enjoy eating out during your Lake Como villa stay, Bellano also has several cafes and restaurants. Our favourite is the Ristorante Alkimia which serves up delicious food either a la carte or from their tasting menu.
Alternatively, a footpath which starts just a minute from the villa will take you on a pleasant walk down to the neighbouring town of Varenna, one of our favourite villages on the lake which boasts an excellent choice of restaurants.
This Lake Como villa itself sleeps 6 with an extra studio apartment right next door which sleeps an additional 2 people. Contemporary throughout, its modern style strikes a lovely contrast to the traditional architecture in the town of Bellano below.
The main villa comprises a large open plan kitchen, dining and living area, separate pantry, a spacious office, sauna and three large bedrooms. The master bedroom boasts an ensuite bathroom with sunken bath positioned to make the most of the incredible views whilst the other two bedrooms share a bathroom. The incredible attention to detail carries onto the studio apartment which again includes a large open plan kitchen, dining and living area, bathroom with shower and cantina (wine room). The latter is the perfect place to keep your wines cool during your stay but is also impressive in architectural terms since it allows you to fully appreciate how the property has been built directly into the cliff face.
The interior design of the property is luxurious, chic and faultless, but our favourite aspect of this Lake Como villa has to be the spectacular views over Lake Como and Bellano from the private outdoor terrace areas where you can sit and watch the boats criss cross the lake all day long. The main villa boasts two private terraces. The first leads off the living and kitchen area and is furnished with both coffee table and chairs as well as a more formal dining table. The second terrace is below and boasts a seating area furnished with loungers and dining table adjacent to a stunning infinity swimming pool. This pool is ideal for swimmers since it has been equipped with a current function. Incidentally, there is a beach at Bellano which is within walking distance of the villa should you ever fancy a change from lounging by the pool! The studio apartment also has its own private terrace, again positioned to make the most of the lake views and equipped with bistro table and chairs.
And of course, the whole space is practical too. Outside, parking is provided for 3 cars. There is a double garage providing space for 2 vehicles as well as a separate covered space adjacent to the villa. However, we’re seeing an increasing number of holidaymakers looking for villas on Lake Como where you don’t need to bother with the hassle or expense of hiring a car. And, as you can easily walk from Villa Belago to nearby amenities, it’s easily possible to stay here without your own vehicle. Either take a private transfer from the airport or opt for the train – the train station in Bellano is just a 5 minute walk from the villa. You could even consider catching the boat from Como up the lake to Bellano to arrive in style!
In other words, what’s not to like about this stunning Lake Como villa? It definitely ticks every single box when it comes to Italian Lakes villa holidays! We’re already confident that this will quickly become one of our holidaymaker’s favourite Bookings For You properties!
To find out more about this spectacular Lake Como villa, or to make a booking, head to the Bookings For You website.