Find your bearings
Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como is set in the 18th-century Villa Roccabruna in the charming village of Blevio on the southeastern shore of Lake Como. Ease yourself into lakeside living with a stroll around the majestic botanic gardens that surround the villa, before hopping onto a Riva boat for a cruise along the shore to admire the magnificent neighbouring villas. On subsequent days, venture further afield to historic Como for dining and shopping, to beautiful Bellagio for a touch of la dolce vita and the small island of Isola Comacina – where you can take a tour and even enjoy a drink in the Osteria.
Feed your mind
Lakeside living is a leisurely affair, but can be interspersed with excursions to nearby towns and villages. In Como, visit the spectacular Duomo, the last of the great Gothic cathedrals to be built in Lombardy, which is filled with three-centuries’ worth of frescoes and treasures. At Lenno, you’ll find Villa del Balbianello, a villa and garden so beautiful it has featured in numerous Hollywood films, most recently Casino Royale. Come sundown, book in for the opera or a classical concert at Como’s neoclassical Teatro Sociale, where mezzo soprano Giuditta Pasta, one-time owner of Villa Roccabruna, once performed.