With its lush hillsides, idyllic villages and sparkling emerald waters nestled between towering mountains, there’s no destination quite like Lake Como. I recently visited Lago di Como (Lake Como) and took a wonderful 2-hour boat tour of the lake with Captain Giovanni of Lake Como Boats.
Our day started with Captain Giovanni picking us up from our hotel dock just after breakfast in the Mizar III – a historic 10-meter vintage motor yacht entirely made of wood by Cantiere Navali Picchiotti of Viareggio. Built in 1961 and launched in 1962, the Mizar III is the perfect boat to cruise Lake Como and feel as though you’ve been transported back to a different time.
The Mizar III is an extremely comfortable cabin cruiser equipped with a large sundeck on the bow. At the stern of the boat there is a large lounge space with a dining table. Below deck there are bunks, a two person master cabin, kitchenette and bathroom. Throughout the cruise, Captain Giovanni made us feel comfortable with water, soft drinks, snacks and prosecco served on board. Depending on the time and conditions, the boat can stop for swimming and sunbathing.
During our cruise, we got to see all the famous sites around Lago di Como including Villa d’Este, il Sereno Hotel, Villa Pliniana, Nesso village with its picturesque waterfall, Villa Oleandra that’s owned by George Clooney, and Villa Fontanelle which was once owned by Gianni Versace. Of all the sites we saw, the most impressive was Villa Balbianello, a famous house which has been the setting for films such as Casino Royale and Star Wars Episode II.
Overall, there is no better way to enjoy a day on the lake. With Captain Giovanni pointing out the sites and serving up the prosecco, life doesn’t get much better!