Top Lake Como Historical Tours: Reviews & Insights

Lake Como, well, it’s almost a sight to behold, right? More or less a location drawing people to its waters and gorgeous villas. That said, it’s pretty understandable to want to dig a little deeper than just photo ops and boat rides. Luckily, there’s a very good amount of tours out there that can peel back the layers of its fascinating history.

1. Villa del Balbianello Tour: A Movie Star’s History

The Villa del Balbianello, it tends to be one of those spots that sticks in your mind. First off, its location is just amazing, seemingly perched right on the tip of the Dosso d’Avedo promontory. As a matter of fact, this spot isn’t just there for the view; arguably it’s been a hotspot through history. It’s believed a Roman retreat once stood there, before becoming a church, that is to say a monastery in the Middle Ages. Actually, the villa, as we see it nowadays, tends to be a product of the 18th century, alright after Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini decided this would be the perfect place for his retirement home.

However, that’s to say the Villa’s claim to fame doesn’t end with Cardinals, that is. Like your favorite movies? Seemingly, this villa has starred in a couple of blockbusters, and stuff. Pretty much, did scenes for “Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones” and “Casino Royale” take place there. If you ask me, exploring the gardens and seeing the inside of the villa feels almost like you are stepping onto a movie set, yet getting a history lesson, more or less too.

The tours, often, tend to emphasize the villa’s transition through various owners and their impact, like your, Guido Monzino, alright he’s the chap who kitted it out with some interesting artifacts. If you ask me, seeing the perfectly kept gardens and the collection tells the tale of style, and the generations who really loved the place, very.

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Villa del Balbianello Tour)

2. Como City Walking Tour: Unveiling the Urban History

That said, Como is not just some lake. Seriously, it’s more or less a city with a story at every corner. You know, like a walking tour often gets you into the middle of all of that, alright highlighting spots you may very well just pass by without another thought. Basically, if you choose this tour, they usually, kind of start at the Piazza Cavour, seemingly that’s the heart of Como. Typically, it’s like your gateway to see the lake front, obviously, yet also a kick off spot for seeing the town’s old district.

That said, the guides tend to share insights on spots, alright the Duomo for example, really its construction stretched out through centuries, right showcasing a combo of architectural flair. Really interesting. Then, more or less, there’s the Basilica di Sant’Abbondio. Actually, this is a bit away from the hub, as a matter of fact it’s very representative of Romanesque design, usually making it the most charming visit for architecture buffs.

The tour could be centered around figures like Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. They might be locals. Obviously, their legacies have impacted what Como has become. We all want to visit spots like Porta Torre. This one offers something that many locations simply cannot – medieval memories etched right into its stones. Pretty much the tour provides something cool and understandable for pretty much anyone just trying to explore a great Italian village.

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Como City Walking Tour)

3. Bellagio and the Three Villages Tour: Exploring Lakeside Gems

That is to say, Bellagio often ends up being called the “Pearl of Lake Como”, in some respects its charm comes not only from its place at the fork of the lake’s arms. Basically, also from the beautifully done gardens and buildings.

A tour which hits up Bellagio as well as neighboring little towns ends up being about seeing some very cool viewpoints, yet, very, that is getting to see history via small communities, usually those that helped to make the area just what you would picture in an Italian fairytale.

That’s pretty much an interesting tour in that guides end up taking guests via the Villa Melzi gardens. They might also do Villa Serbelloni park; and that is along with the old streets. So that you just do not forget about the architectural, garden and just regular stuff of each community, if you catch my drift.

If you want to see the town of Varenna then you should take a boat to there. Also it may provide sights such as the Villa Monastero with its stunning botanic collections as well as small harbors ideal enough to explore for people who wanna find tranquility, sort of too. As a matter of fact, the addition of Menaggio ends up offering you more chances for visiting old-school buildings as well as waterfront walks which in some respects reflect the grandness found everywhere located on Lake Como.

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Bellagio and the Three Villages Tour)

4. Tremezzo Historical Walking Tour

Tremezzo, right it might be a more smaller location, and stuff, however this has a heavy punch with history and creative beauty, that is. Actually its known a whole lot for Villa Carlotta and a bunch of historical scenery to absorb, typically it works very well on a walking tour, by the way offering really deep understandings of its past as well as creative relevance.

Arguably, most walking tours tend to start around the waterfront. Also these trips may very well visit notable locations such as the Church of San Lorenzo along with its ancient roots; actually guides will, seemingly, bring you into Villa Carlotta’s story, for instance describing its art along with rich botany, naturally all brought together really skillfully. Another perk has got to be seeing all those spots for unbelievable photographs, right from flower-packed gardens all down to stunning lake views, as a matter of fact each single viewpoint is really picture-ready.

And so walking tours will commonly check into how Tremezzo evolved thanks to noble families who put effort into changing its surroundings and how residents were influenced down through historical developments and just everyday cultural parts of its existence. Then checking into small alleyways will provide insights regarding local heritage with structures all echoing stories out from long before our period right now!

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Tremezzo Historical Walking Tour)

5. Lake Como Boat Tours with Historical Focus

If you ask me, Lake Como really offers a pretty cool vantage point while taking a boat, even better whenever they share about waterside locations and exactly how they figured directly within historical tales associated together with it, you.

Anyway guides end up telling old stories from Villa del Balbianello and from Villa Carlotta by describing crucial historical data which makes it considerably more immersive while viewing these places just off the water actually, so, too it’s almost like seeing old historical incidents really occur live when traveling throughout Lake Como from your boat!

Seemingly they just might talk a whole lot about castles that ended up being designed over Lake Como to protect or get an idea of which villas served as significant points while old situations developed along its coasts etcetera; it actually will improve the whole feeling throughout your travels a bit so that pretty much every viewer benefits throughout some amazing educational memories plus awesome views right around.

Read our full review: Lake Como Boat Tours Full Review and Details