Boat Tour 4 hours - Pick up from Lecco

1. Departure from Lecco: the skyline and the "Matitone"

With the mooring lines cast off, the boat heads into open water in the gulf of Lecco, immediately giving us a memorable picture of the town nestled between the Resegone and Monte San Martino:

From the boat: Standing out above all is the unmistakable bell tower of the Basilica of San Nicolò, 96 metres tall and nicknamed the "Matitone" (the Pencil) by the people of Lecco for its octagonal neo-Gothic outline and slender spire. From the bow the massive stone base is clearly visible: it rises on the foundations of a circular tower of the ancient fifteenth-century Sforza walls, built to guard the port.

2. Close under the shore at Malgrate and the cliffs of the Moregallo

We turn west to skirt the western shore at close range:

Malgrate and the Rocca: The stately lakeside residences file past and, looking up at the rocky ridge, we spot the austere Castello/Rocca di Malgrate, an ancient medieval stronghold of the Recalcati marchesi.

The cliffs of the Moregallo: Civilisation gives way to bare rock: the boat skims the vertiginous limestone walls of the Moregallo plunging straight into the dark water. A wild amphitheatre famous among climbers and legendary among divers, drawn by its mysterious depths and sunken wrecks.

3. Heading north: Onno, Vassena and the charm of Pescallo

Sailing halfway offshore towards the tip of the Larian triangle:

Onno and Vassena: Two authentic Larian villages with their clusters of stone houses poised right at the water's edge.

The village and harbour of Pescallo: We slow down to glide into the sheltered bay of Pescallo (the eastern quarter of Bellagio). Seen from the lake it is a poetic vision: an intimate little fishing harbour dotted with sailing boats, with ivy-covered stepped alleys descending gently to the water.

4. Bellagio from the lake and the gardens of Villa Melzi d'Eril

Doubling the promontory towards the heart of the lake:

Villa Melzi d'Eril: From the water's surface we admire the neoclassical terraces, the Moorish kiosk and the celebrated English-style gardens that brush the shore with exotic plants, azaleas and centuries-old cypresses.

Bellagio seen from the lake: Without landing, we enjoy the most celebrated perspective in the world: the monumental central staircase, the Belle Époque grand hotels and, crowning the wooded hill, the majestic Villa Serbelloni.

5. The deepest point and the Riviera della Tremezzina

We open the throttle to cut across the basin towards the Como shore:

The deepest point: Sailing towards Tremezzo we cross the waters of the Larian abyss: Lake Como is the deepest lake in Italy, with depths in this central sector exceeding 410 metres.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo: Unmistakable with its majestic ochre-yellow Art Nouveau facade and its famous floating pool, "Water-on-the-Water". An icon of the Belle Époque, it has hosted the international jet set since its opening in 1910: Greta Garbo described it as "that place full of sunshine and happiness" (the actress made it famous in the Oscar-winning film Grand Hotel of 1932, and a historic suite is named after her), and over the years it has welcomed Hollywood stars, royalty and champions such as Kimi Räikkönen.

Villa Carlotta: Right next door, we spot the scenic Baroque stairways, the monumental fountains and the celebrated 8-hectare botanical park, renowned throughout Europe for its spectacular spring flowering of rhododendrons and azaleas.

6. The gems of the Tremezzina and the legendary Isola Comacina

We continue south-west along the most exclusive stretch of the Lario:

Villa del Balbianello (the queen of the lake): Perched on the wooded tip of the Lavedo peninsula, it is considered the most scenic villa on the Lario. Seen from the boat, with its sheer terraces, its "umbrella"-pruned holm oaks and its celebrated three-arched loggia, it takes your breath away. It has become a global legend of the cinema: unforgettable scenes of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (the secret wedding between Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala) and of the 007 masterpiece Casino Royale with Daniel Craig were filmed here.

Villa La Cassinella: Not far away, set in a private bay accessible only from the lake, we spot this supremely luxurious private estate, famous for its perfectly symmetrical cypresses and the absolute privacy chosen by billionaires and world celebrities.

Villa Balbiano: A sumptuous seventeenth-century palace facing the water at Ossuccio, famous for its Italian garden, its golden jetties and for having been the main set of Ridley Scott's film House of Gucci.

Isola Comacina and its curse: The only island on Lake Como glides past us steeped in mystery. The curiosities: in the Middle Ages it was a powerful Byzantine stronghold and later an ally of Milan; in 1169 it was razed completely to the ground by the men of Como, and the bishop of Como, Vidulfo, hurled a terrible curse: "The bells shall never ring again, no stone shall be set upon stone, and whoever lives there shall die a violent death". For centuries it remained uninhabited, until in the 1940s the keeper of the island's celebrated inn invented the rite of "flambé coffee with exorcism", recited at every meal to drive away the centuries-old curse.

7. The crossing to Varenna: village, castle and patrician residences

We point the bow east, cutting across the wide expanse of water towards the eastern shore:

Varenna from the lake: With its colourful houses backed against the rock face and its characteristic red walkway suspended over the water ("the Walk of Lovers"), it offers one of the most romantic and authentic glimpses of the tour.

The Castle of Vezio: Looking up above the village rooftops, on the summit of a rocky spur, the ancient medieval castle stands out, wrapped in the Lombard legends of Queen Theodolinda.

Villa Cipressi and Villa Monastero: We glide at minimum speed close under the shore to admire the terraced gardens of Villa Cipressi and the scenic balustrades of Villa Monastero: almost two kilometres of loggias, sculptures and centuries-old cypresses that seem to plunge into the water.

8. Down the eastern shore: Lierna, Villa Aurelia and the gossip about George Clooney

We set out on the homeward route, descending along the eastern shore of the Lecco branch:

Lierna and Riva Bianca: From offshore we admire the characteristic crescent-shaped cove with its gleaming pebble beach and the remains of the ancient castle on the promontory.

Villa Aurelia and the Clooney backstory: Amid the vegetation stands out Villa Aurelia (also known as Villa Besana), a sumptuous eclectic residence in Art Nouveau style with a panoramic turret and a stone boathouse. The curiosity: the story goes that George Clooney, longing for even more inviolable privacy than Laglio offered, fell head over heels in love with it, going so far as to offer a record sum (rumour whispered of over 100 million dollars); the historic owning family, however, declined the offer, preferring to jealously guard their own Larian paradise.

9. Mandello del Lario and the clear waters of Abbadia

Heading south, with the dolomite mass of the Grigne framing the scene:

Mandello del Lario: The legendary home of Moto Guzzi motorcycles. From the lake we admire the picturesque old harbour dominated by the medieval watchtower.

The beaches of Abbadia Lariana: The coast softens into long bays of light gravel lapped by particularly clear, turquoise waters, often dotted with sails pushed by the lake breeze.

10. The return to Lecco and the farewell of the Patron Saint San Nicolò

Heading for the final mooring, before returning to port:

The Saint's statue upon the waters: We slow down at the punta della Maddalena to draw near the evocative gilded bronze statue of San Nicolò, patron of Lecco and protector of seafarers and boatmen. Placed at water level on an emerging rock in the mid-1950s, the sacred figure blesses with open arms all those returning from their cruise, giving these 4 hours of cruising the most symbolic and moving of conclusions.