Suitecastlelakeview 2

Bellano worked well as a base, with a direct train link to Milan. It's a quiet town and doesn't feel overrun like Varenna or Bellagio. We enjoyed sitting at a cafe and watching local life, and the cafe prices reflected the calmer atmosphere. The area is very hilly, though, and this house has the steps and uphill access from the road that many places do. We stayed in house no 1. The terraces look out across the lake, and a quiet public beach is only a two-minute walk away. The house was well equipped, and the bedroom air conditioning was a real pleasure. Giovanni was a wonderful host: he made us spritz, lent me an electric mountain bike for a beautiful ride up the mountain, and took us on a special tour that I'll leave as a surprise.

Giovanni made our stay feel personal from the start. He greeted us with a snack and the best Aperol Spritz, then showed us the house, terraces, and garden, including the herb garden. We bonded over cooking. We cooked two nights, and he gave us his homemade herb rub for our steaks. If you happen to be there on a weekend, he may make a traditional Italian dinner using herbs from the garden. He's the loveliest man, and the drive he took us on was magical. We can't wait to see him again and cook together. The outdoor spaces are lovely for reading or eating. The gardens have flowers, lemon and evergreen trees, Japanese maples, and butterflies. From your private terrace, you can watch the sunset over the panoramic lake views. There's also a beach just across the street for swimming, and restaurants are about a five-minute walk away. Giovanni gives itinerary advice based on your interests and the season, and helped us make reservations. Castle Suite 1 felt like a home away from home, with views that made our Lake Como dreams real. The house is elegantly furnished with original paintings, wood and marble floors, marble bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and four terraces. We were in awe of the place and wish we'd stayed longer. We know we'll return, probably for a week or more.

This was our fourth year at this beautiful spot overlooking Lake Como, and it still feels like coming home. Our host is always on hand to help guests. It really is a fantastic little paradise, and we'll definitely be back.

Bellano was a handy base for seeing Lake Como, away from the busiest tourist spots. The apartment is around 600-700m from the center, about 600m from the pier, and 800m from the train station. You can leave the car at the residence and take the boat around, though it's best to check the schedules first. Trains run more often than boats, for example, for a trip to Varenna. Bellano also has a good restaurant and an ice cream shop. We loved our stay with Giovanni. His hospitality and kindness were as impressive as the apartment, and he was very accommodating: for our two families of three, he arranged the rooms so we could have three people per room. He was always trying to make us comfortable, with suggestions for restaurants, a nearby supermarket, and places to visit. His welcome Spritz was excellent. We also tried his cooking: vegetable flan with homemade pesto, lasagna, pork medallions with green pepper and port sauce, and tiramisu, all for €28. It was a real treat, especially since everything was homemade. His vegetable garden is lovely, with plenty of rosemary, zucchini, and zucchini flowers. Suitecastlelakeview 1 gave us an extraordinary three-night stay. The apartment is large, spread over two levels, and has magnificent lake views, spacious rooms, and castle-style decor. The furniture and lighting are very good quality. My favorite details were unexpectedly the beautiful floor and the entrance door, which reminded me of "Alice in Wonderland." It was very clean despite all the decorations. The apartment is near a pleasant little public beach, though it has large pebbles that make it hard to swim barefoot, as in many places around the lake. We initially thought the rental was quite expensive, but the quality more than justified the price.