Seven a.m. church bells every morning rouse even the most weary travelers with a cheerful "welcome to our town." This quaint little village sits right on the edge of Lake Como, with beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains in every direction.

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Our first day in Varenna was spent exploring the nooks and crannies of this village. We climbed the steep cobblestone path to the Castello di Vezio and were rewarded with spectacular views of the lake and its surroundings. Ghostly figures made of white chalk haunt the castle grounds until the winter snows destroy them, and rusty old suits of armor wait in corners for their long-departed soldiers.

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The second day started bright and early on a passenger ferry across the central part of the lake. This ferry takes passengers on a scenic tour of various towns, including Lenno and Bellagio where we stopped to explore for a while. There are several different routes around the lake, depending on where you want to go. Spend the whole day or just a few hours on the lake - you won't regret a moment of it!

 

A jump in the lake to cool off after returning to Varenna revived us, and the day was topped off by a special dinner at the home of a local chef where we were treated to a traditional Italian meal. This meal was the first of several special treats we enjoyed as members of a Rick Steves' Europe tour - things that we'd be hard pressed to arrange on our own or even with another tour company.