The poet Shelley claimed that Bellagio, also known as “the pearl of the lake”, was the loveliest town, not only on Lake Como, but in the whole world. Bellagio sits at the very tip of the promontory of the Punta Spartivento, “the point that divides the winds”, strung out along a narrow terrace on the western side: as a result, when it is approached by boat, the whole village is laid out for the visitor’s inspection.
The lake front is an array of beautiful buildings, red-roofed and with pastel shaded walls, above which rises the campanile of the 11th century church of San Giacomo.
At one end of the village is Villa Melzi, one of the finest neo-classical villas on the shores of the lake.
At the other end is the Villa Serbelloni, now owned by the Rockfeller Foundation.
The villas may be the architectural highlights of the town of Bellagio, but there is much more, apart from the lake front bars, cafes and souvenir shops. A small maze of steep, sometimes cobbled, streets lead up to the old part of the village: wander up there at leisure, enjoying both the old world charm and the stunning views of the lake.
This neo-classical villa was built in 1808 for one of Napoleon’s henchmen, the Duke of Lodi, Francesco Melzi d’Eril.
Topped with a score of pointy little chimneys, Villa Melzi has immaculate lawns, colourful banks of flowers, a rare Montezuma pine and a water lily pond, all decorated with Egyptian, Roman and Hellenistic sculptures, scattered here and there, and a little Moorish temple, where, in 1837, Liszt composed his sonata dedicated to Dante and Beatrice.
High above Bellagio, surrounded by a magnificent park, at the northernmost point of the peninsula, lies Villa Serbelloni.
Villa Serbelloni, which was built in 1538, is now property of the Rockfeller Foundation of New York and is used as a study centre for students from all over the world, who come here on scholarships for one month, free of charge.
There are guided tours around the gardens twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, which leave from the Tourist Office.