Our second day in the Lake Como area with Phil and Marie was full of exploration around Varenna, Mennagio and Bellagio – from the Castello Vezio atop Varenna to the historic churches of Mennagio and the vertical alleys of Bellagio.
We began the day with a wonderful breakfast at Hotel La Perla, then purchased day passes to ride the boats. We arrived in Varenna, then climbed the hill to the Castello Vezio (castle) above the city, where we explored the outer and inner courtyards, the tower and underground tunnels. We climbed the North side to reach the castle, then walked down the less-traveled South path to get a better sense of Varenna from all angles.
In Mennagio, we enjoyed art and ambiance in several older churches and refreshed with a little gelato by the shore.
In Bellagio, there was shopping to be done, including an original watercolor that Aaron and Kim selected to remember the narrow walkways and stucco buildings of the city. Marie also enjoyed perusing the shops. She got some great black licorice candies with flavored fillings – we’ve sampled them during our adventures.
We finished our day at Melo and Franca’s – where else?!
Tomorrow – off to Pisa, then the ancient walled city of Lucca a little further Southwest, down the “calf muscle” of Italia!
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- Gardens outside Bellagio
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- Marie, Kim and Katelyn on the boat ride to Bellagio
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- Looking toward the Alps from Lake Como
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- Varenna from Lake Como
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- An old shed on the way up to Castello Vezio above Varenna
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- Looking back down the path we walked up to Castello Vezio above Varenna
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- Chiesa Di Saint Antonio Abate Di Vezio
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- Marie and Phil
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- Phil and Zach learning together in Chiesa Di Saint Antonio Abate Di Vezio
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- The ceiling art in Chiesa Di Saint Antonio Abate Di Vezio
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- Original wall frescos in Chiesa Di Saint Antonio Abate Di Vezio (looks like they were "rediscovered" by chiseling away 'modern' coverings)
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- Stained glass above the entry to Chiesa Di Saint Antonio Abate Di Vezio
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- Castello Vezio from the entry gate
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- A hawk inside the courtyard of Castello Vezio
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- A bridge leading to the main tower in Castello Vezio
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- Kim looking down from the top of the tower at Castello Vezio
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- Lake Como from atop Varenna
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- Looking down at the outside walls of Castello Vezio
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- Varenna below the castle
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- Aaron, Zach, Kim, Katelyn, Marie and Phil atop Castello Vezio, Varenna
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- Zach, Kim and Katelyn inside the stairs that led up to the top of the castle tower
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- Marie, Katelyn and Kim coming down the cantilever stairs inside Castello Vezio
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- Aaron, Zach and Phil enjoying a view of the inner courtyard
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- The Castello Vezio tower from the courtyard
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- Inside a tunnel under the castle - very dark, with outlooks of the surrounding hills
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- A donation vase outside a cemetary
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- Descending from Castello Vezio on the opposite side of Varenna
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- Varenna North
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- Kim enjoying the sun in Varenna
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- A pollinating palm
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- Flowers seem to grow out of the every crack
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- The Monastero in Varenna
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- An angel on the side of a church in Varenna
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- Inside a Varenna church
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- Two evergreens that look like one
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- Marie's reflection in a window as we walked down to the Varenna lakeshore
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- Mennagio crossroads
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- Marie and Phil in a Mennagio alley
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- Coming into Mennagio from the East
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- Excellent gelato from a Gelateria in Mennagio - late afternoon, so it hit the spot
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- Mennagio Church
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- We rode the Iris back to Tremezzo
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- A view of Castello Vezio from Lake Como
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- Apartments in the hills above Varenna
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- Cemetary above the hills of Varenna
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- Phil, Marie, Zach and Katelyn in a Bellagio alley (very typical in Bellagio)
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- From the Bellagio shore waiting for our boat
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- Seagull at Sunset on Bellagio - by Zach
Comments
Absolutely stunning pictures from Italy! Thanks for sharing!