10/10 Eccellente
kerensa l., United Kingdom
29 ago 2018
A perfect place to stay!
Villa Venere in Gera Lario easily accommodated six of us in comfort -- four adults and two teenaged 'children' -- we didn't use the separate annex on this occasion. The elements were all there -- enough kitchen equipment for us to eat in, wifi that was strong enough to cope with constant streaming, and no fighting over the sunbeds! There is one restaurant in easy walking difference; be prepared for huge portions -- 'dividiamo' became a useful addition to our Italian vocabulary. Shopping is easy at an Iperal hypermarket just ten minutes away at Colico.
The villa is just off the lake road, so it's easy to head out and explore -- we visited Menaggio and caught the ferry to Bellaggio, Chiavenna, Passo San Marco, Abbazia di Piona, Bellano (on our way from Milan), Varenna and the lovely Gardens Cipresi -- all within an hour's drive of the property. We also took the train from Colico (one short change at Lecco) for a long, but very worthwhile, day trip to Bergamo. There is also easy access to the lake promenade walk, but be ready for the steep climb back up the road to the property! We also took a boat out on the lake for a couple of hours (we used Ranieri just out of Gravedona, who were efficient and helpful), which gave a different perspective.
The hosts were delightful -- Veronica met us at the property and kept us informed of local events (we were fortunate to see a couple of local fireworks displays), and would have happily organised things for us if I hadn't been keen to use my own -- limited -- recent education in Italian. We had one problem at the villa when a spectacular storm knocked out the electricity. Veronica arranged for an electrician to arrive within half and hour, and all was resolved.
In summary, Villa Venere is a beautiful place in which to relax and enjoy a holiday with family and friends, but is also ideally located for a full exploration of all that Lake Como offers. You won't regret it.
Grazie mille Veronica & Marco!
