2018.06.28 10:54
We joined the OSU Alumni Travel Program conducted by the Gohagan Travel Company and visited Milan, Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta enjoying the Northern Italian Lake Villages and it’s cuisine while staying at the Palace Hotel in Como. Since the Northern Italian lakes located under the foot of the Alps, the luxurious vegetation and blue lakes under the sun painted the nestled villages as a picturesque haven. How enchanting! The imposing Duomo in Como, built over a period of several centuries, from 14th-18th c., chiefly Renaissance and Gothic style, the facade of the 15 c. Porta Vittoria, a tower built in the 12 c to protect one of the gates through the old walls of the city, the statue of Volta, who invented Battery, in the town square are a few highlights of the city Como. The breathtaking view of the city and lake from the hill, 712m high was another not to be miss point of interest reachable by Funicular. Grand Hotel Bellagio, Lake Como on the shoreline of the Lake Como, by Cardinal Durini, then after a few changes of the ownership a prominent Milanese business man and dedicated explorer, a fervent collector, Guido Monzino purchased it, restored, refurbished into a private home as well as a museum. The luxuriant garden that frames del Babionello is created vertically, the huge plane trees in candelabra shapes, English style lawn to the open portion of the Loggia with sculptures and flowering pots against the backdrop of the blue lake is indeed breathtaking. Guido Manzino never married, left his entire estate including various collections of art, maps, furniture, artifacts and memorabilias from his expeditions to Italian National Trust. |