A fragrant blend of art, relaxation and culture. Contemplation reigns here. A green and blue strip of water and lush vegetation in the shape of a forked tongue, Lake Como looks south towards the industrial heart of Northern Italy and Milan, its financial capital, and north to the almost always snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps of the Engadin in the Grisons Canton.
The area around the lake offers excellent tourist hospitality, especially in the central part known as “Tremezzina” or the “Riviera of the Azaleas” for the multicoloured blossoms that burst into flower at the beginning of spring.. Together with Cernobbio and Bellagio, it is in Griante Cadenabbia , one of the queens of the lake and a prestigious international tourist destination with its excellent hotels and the more familiar, intimate and exclusive residences scattered throughout the area, that beautiful geometric plantings forming elegant gardens and inspiring hymns to contemplation can be found.
Cadenabbia lies on the shore opposite Bellagio. Visited in the past by famous personalities such as Giuseppe Verdi and Konrad Adenauer, the German Chancellor, who regularly holidayed here at Villa La Collina , in the far off 19th century, Griante Cadenabbia also charmed the American writer, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who wrote: Cadenabbia I ask myself, Is this a dream? Will it all vanish into air? Is there a land of such supreme And perfect beauty anywhere?
Today, tourists from all over the world, Australians, Americans, North Europeans, Russians, Swiss and Canadians, and even some from the Arab Emirates, animate its lakeside, wander through the ancient village and climb up to the Sanctuary of San Martino perched high above. All on a voyage of discovery of an area made enchanting by colourful gardens, spectacular parks and sumptuous historic villas, full of the harmonious sounds of nature interrupted only by solemn, enveloping silence.
The beauty of the landscape has been preserved with complete respect for the environment. This is at the heart of its attraction. From Griante we start out on an imaginary tour to discover Villa Carlotta , Villa La Collina , United States Democratic Senator (currently Secretary of State ) from Massachussets John Kerry's Villa Maresi, Villa Melzi in Bellagio and Villa del Balbianello in Lenno, owned by the FAI, the Italian National Trust.