Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the huddled hamlet flashes of bright colour. On the square, the 14th-century Chiesa di Tom-
maso Beckett competes for attention with the neighbouring Castello degli Andreani , built around
the same time. Frescoes inside the church were uncovered during restoration work in
1966. Two stout, crenellated towers stand guard over the castle, which is closed to visit-
ors. A series of uneven stone stairways tumbles between the tightly packed houses to the
shoreline, one ending up at a tiny port (with space for nine motorboats and a family of
ducks).
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Bellano
POP 3305
Once an industrial centre, Bellano (5km north of Varenna) is a sleepy lakeside town with a
singular sight: the Orrido ( 0341 82 11 24; adult/child €3/2; 9am-7pm Jul & Aug, shorter hrs rest of
year) , a powerful waterfall where the river Pioverna thunders down between tight, rock
walls before flowing out through the town into the lake. The power of the falls has
hammered out weird shapes in the rock walls, topped by thick vegetation. If you suffer
from vertigo, you might want to give this a miss.
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Varenna
POP 812
Varenna, a beguiling village bursting with florid plantlife, exotic flowery perfumes and
birdsong, is a short ferry ride away from its rival in postcard beauty, Bellagio. Its pastel-
coloured houses defy the standard laws of physics, seeming to grip for all they're worth to
the steep slopes that rise from the lake.
Sights
Varenna is home to two lovely lakeside villas: Villa Cipressi (
0341 83 01 13;
9am-7pm Mar-Oct) , now a luxury hotel,
www.hotelvillacipressi.it ; Via IV Novembre 22; adult/child €4/2;
and, 100m further south, Villa Monastero (
0341 29 54 50; www.villamonastero.eu ; Via IV Novembrea;
villa & gardens adult/reduced €8/4, gardens only €5/2;
gardens 9am-7pm, villa 2-7pm Fri, 9am-7pm Sat & Sun
 
 
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