SEPTEMBER 2015 : ITALY : Menaggio and Lenno, Lake Como

                                   

A cloudy morning with lower visibility of the northern part of the lake. We planned to go to Lenno today, a town south of Menaggio, to visit the exceptional Villa Balbianello.

                                           

Menaggio from the wharf.

        

We took the 10am ferry to Lenno, which has a Tuesday market. It was not a very interesting display. Mainly mass-produced clothes, bags etc and only a few produce stalls. I did notice that overnight, with the onset of cooler weather, sleeveless tops and sandals have been replaced with jeans, jackets and boots. I'm still holding on to the fleeting moments of warm weather ...

          

One of the few local produce stalls at the weekly market.

         

           Villa Balbianello (taken on Sunday when the skies were blue)

        

We walked along the shore to join the entrance path to the Villa Balbianello.

Descending the estate from the path, the immaculate garden takes the shape of the natural terrain.

         

The loggia, which houses a map room and an extensive library.

         

Greek and Roman sculptures are interspersed with Plane trees.

        

The villa's wharf - the garden reaching right to the shore.

       

The villa was originally built on a medieval Franciscan monastery in 1787. More recently, it was owned by Guido Monzino, a department store magnate, collector and explorer. His motto translates 'Gradually step by step to the top'. 

        

As well as exquisite collections of Aztec, Chinese, African artefacts and impressive taste in French and English period furniture, he created his own personal museum. This documents his exploits and investment in exploration to Kilimanjaro, the North Pole (1971) and Mt Everest (1973). The sled, replete with polar bear skin rug, was the one he used in his expedition to the North Pole.

          

He also had an extensive collection of paintings of various aspects of Lake Como.

         

Perfect setting for a wedding.

         

View towards Lenno.

         

Pasta and octopus lunch at Trattoria S. Stefano in Lenno.

        

Sunset over the square in Menaggio.

                                      

Dinner at la Valetta. Hilarious. Busy night with the waiter, in a Basil-Fawlty style, deciding whom he would accept for dinner...many turned away and others accepted readily. Despite all this, a really delicious meal at a very reasonable price.

 (We just got in before the rush - just in time to experience the excruciating ordeal of others!)

        

Walking home...

M&M