Wednesday 22 May - our plan today was to visit Tremezzo, where Villa Carlotta was the star attraction. It was two ferry stops from Varenna, not far, so we left mid morning. The ferry terminal was directly at the base of the Villa. The entrance fee was 10 euros, 8 euros for the aged, for which we qualified naturally.
We entered the botanical garden of the Villa, marvelling at its beauty. Covering about 8 hectares, the garden was terraced at the front of the Villa, with pathways trellised overhead by lemon and mandarin trees. There were azaleas, camellias, and rhododendrons in vast arrays in this Eden like paradise. Pockets of foliage akin to rainforest soared above the manicured lawns. Waterfalls cascaded down the slopes, adding to the sense of exotic wilderness.
We found a café on the outer edge of the property, overlooking the lake. We had cappuccinos all round and a brief respite to enjoy the view and marvel at our surroundings.
The Villa itself was stunning. There were three levels, each one displaying incredible artwork, ornate furnishings, sculptures and artefacts dating back centuries. After looking in all the rooms, we stepped out on to the balcony to admire the breathtaking view. Lake Como sparkled in the sunlight, its surface a dappled deep blue.
Eventually we turned back into the Villa to begin the descent to the ground floor. My legs were still in a vice like grip. Climbing up the stairs to each floor was just bearable but I knew going back down would be excruciating. As we moved towards the top of the stairs, suddenly there before us was a lift. Such relief! We shared the short ride down with another couple, with whom we managed to exchange countries of origin. They were Italian but lived in San Diego.
We made our way back to the ferry terminal. The next ferry arrived in 40 minutes so we found a boat bar not far away and popped on board for a beer and some snacks. We sat on the deck in the warm sunshine, sipping our cold beer, all feeling content with our world.
That evening, we were again guests at our travelling companions’ apartment. This time maestro Max whet our appetites with anti pasta to start, then a mouthwatering spread of spaghetti carbonara, salad (courtesy of Eve), crusty bread with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and pesto. Bellissimo! We provided the beer, wine and limoncello plus some background music from Michael’s phone piped through the bluetooth speaker. Another tasty meal worthy of any decent restaurant and yet another entertaining night with good friends.
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| Longest hair at the ferry terminal in Varenna! |
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| One of the colourful American tourists on the ferry |
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| Villa Carlotta |
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