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VarennaVarenna, terminus with Cadenabbia of the ferryboat service for vehicles from Bellagio, is situated on a promontory at the mouth of the Esino stream. The center, structured according to the design lay-out of Roman origin, and village fortified in the Middle Ages, still preserves town-planning and buildings of unique value. Here, in the nearby church of San Giorgio of the 14th century, later re-elaborated in the 17th -18th century, two tall villas rise.
Villa Isimbardi or dei Cipressi (of the Cypresses), 19th century reconstruction of an older building, with suggestive terraces and rows of Cypresses, and Villa Monastero, directly in fronted over the waters of the Lake, its name comes from the original all-women monastery active here between the '200 and '500, transformed later in residence in the second half of the 16th century at the request of Paolo Mornico. Villa Cipressi, now an hotel belonging to the city of Varenna, gives the
possibility to visit, through a botanic pathway, century-old gardens with tiered
terraces till the lake, containing plants of a rare beauty and worldwide botanic
importance.
The gardens of Villa Monastero
are an integral part of the atmosphere and charm of the place. It is a long
promenade along the lake, with paths and terraces under the mountain as
backdrop. Interesting not too far from Varenna, is Fumelatte (Milk River), hamlet of the same name as its characteristic stream, very short and foaming course, springs back to life every year in the Spring from a mountain grotto; it empties into the Lake after only 250 meters (it is matter of fact the shortest in Italy) and even Leonardo da Vinci in the Atlantic Code mentioned it. Varenna can be easily reached with the Trenitalia train from Lecco and Milan, or by with a car by ferry from Bellagio. It is possible to arrive with a boat from Como through Bellagio, and then the ferry, following this itinerary. Text in part courtesy of www.navigazionelaghi.it
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