Bellagio, Lombardy – Exploring Italy
Bellagio is a small town on the shores of Lake Como in the Italian province of Lombardy. Lake Como is a popular tourist destination in northern Italy and Bellagio is one of several picturesque small towns along its shores. The commune has a population of around 3.600 inhabitants, but a lot more people visit the town during the summer months.
Our Visit to Bellagio
We visited Lake Como and the town of Bellagio in 2016 on a day trip from nearby Bergamo. We spend the day enjoying the atmosphere and discovering the towns of Bellagio and Lecco.
A Short History
This area was occupied by the Roman Empire in the year 225 BC. Bellagio would later become a Roman garrison, but the area was also colonized with a more permanent population. The town was further fortified in the 6th century with the construction of a fortress. The fortifications did, however, not prevent the area from being conquered by the Lombards in the same century. The Roman fortress became the home of King Liutprand of the Lombards in 744. The Lombards were later defeated by the Franks. The town and its fortress would continue to play a part in many of the conflicts in the area during the coming centuries.
The military and trade importance of the town gained a third pillar in the 19th century. This third pillar was the nobility. Count Francesco Melzi d’Eril established his summer home here and Bellagio had started to attract the nobility from Milan. Visitors also included Emperor Francis I of Austria.
The town and the rest of Como became a part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1859. The main income for the town soon became tourism and that has remained until today.
Things to Do and See
What to do when visiting Bellagio? Many will most likely just enjoy the view of Lake Como, and eat some gelato. A walk around the narrow small streets of the town is also nice. Hikes along the waterfront or up the hill for an even better view are also an option. The most prominent building in the town is the Basilica of St. Giacomo. Its high bell tower is visible from afar across the lake.
How to Get to Bellagio
- Flights: There are several large airports nearby. In Italy, there is Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) and Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY). To the north, across the border with Switzerland is also Lugano Airport (LUG)
- Car: Bellagio lies along Road SP583 between Como and Lecco.
- Ferry: Several ferries across Lake Como connect the town with other small towns in the area.
The driving distance from 5 major Italian cities, according to Google Maps:
- Rome – 639 kilometers (6 h 30 min)
- Milan – 71 kilometers (1 h 15 min)
- Venice – 319 kilometers (3 h 20 min)
- Naples – 838 kilometers (7 h 50 min)
- Palermo – 1541 kilometers (15 h 10 min)
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