As with most subalpine lakes of Italy, the geological origin of the Lake of Como is of a glacial sort.

During the quaternary era the whole of the basin was covered by a grand glacier which reached as far as Brianza beyond the lake branches of Como and Lecco forming the existing morenic hills.

The lake was formed in the cavity dug out by the glacier. Evidence of its slow passage is shown by the rocks which still bear signs of erosion and by numerous erratic boulders which are present, mainly on the high plains of the Larian Triangle (the centre part of the Lake).

Como lake

The limited extension of the territory should not be misleading as few other Italian localities offer such a variety of environmental, landscape and human settlement tipologies.

In just a few kilometres one can go from high mountains to the lakeside, from wild alpine valleys to hill-tops, from urban areas to small remote hamlets, from a wildlife oasis to ski-slopes. Hares, pheasants, deer, chamois, steinbock, birds of prey populate these valleys still in a perfect state of conservation.

Very small villages with rows of characteristic stone houses come one after the other along the lake side and world famous localities known for their beauty. These are lake localities that maintain that sound charm which made them a sure stop-over for those refined visitors who crossed the Alps in order to visit Italy.

Set at the foot of the great mountains, the Lake of Como and of Lugano and the valleys that merge with them are characterized by the beauty of the surrounding landscape and by the continuous renewal of colours and atmosphere during the changing months.

Como Lake (Menaggio) - Click to enlarge

Lugano lake

Lake Lugano with its very irregular shape reaches a maximum depth of 288 mts. Enchanting localities look over the lake from its shores.

The most important city on the lake is Lugano on Swiss territory. It is definitely a more modern area compared to the Italian Ceresio. In this area between the sky and the lake blue is the dominant colour but all around the setting is green.

Here too the air is clean; there are no factories and everything has remained as it once was with the lake, half on Italian territory and half in Switzerland. Passenger-boats which sail across it from Lugano offer the chance to explore the lake, to admire the spellbinding Villa Fogazzaro at Oria (not open to the public) with its hanging gardens on two terraces, with lemon-trees and oleander fragrances. All this is the 'Little World' of Franco, Luisa and Ombretta, characters of a 19th century novel set in the Valsolda of olden times which still fascinates the modern tourist.

Lugano Lake - Click to enlarge