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Situated in the middle of Lake Como, Bellagio is sometimes referred to as the pearl of the lake with its centuries-old buildings, cobbled stairways and lanes. Restaurants and bars line the lakeside, where you can enjoy a meal or a drink overlooking the water and the surrounding mountains as well as the grand Villa Melzi.

The village's narrow alleyways are lined with local boutiques and artisanal shops, offering traditional products. The strategic mid-lake location makes Bellagio a convenient base for exploring the rest of Lake Como.

Forked Lake Como separates into its two arms at the tip of a headland topped by Bellagio, a place where flowers spill over garden walls, steep stone stairways lead up the hillside, and brightly painted boats bob in the water. Pastel buildings line the narrow streets, and a host of shops, bars and restaurants flank the lanes and the waterfront, where lingering over a drink or a meal is the done thing.

An avenue of plane trees leads up from the boat landing to the sloping gardens at 19th-century Villa Melzi, a neoclassical mansion on the lakeshore. The gardens extend beyond the house and up the hill. Dotted with Egyptian sculptures and Roman statues, they’re home to many species of exotic trees, a lily pond in the Japanese style, and a riot of azalea and rhododendron blooms in April and May. Tickets also give you access to the chapel and a small museum in the orangery, although the house itself remains private.

A short walk along narrow stairways and paths leads you away from the heart of Bellagio to the small fishing port of Pescallo. From here, it's a scenic walk to Punta Spartivento, the very tip of the peninsula where the two arms of Lake Como meet. Looking north toward the Alps, the views are unrivaled with the distant peaks lording over the lake and surrounding hillside and forests.

Although Bellagio gets very crowded, particularly on summer weekends, it loses little of its charm in the throng. Its central position makes it a good base for exploring the rest of the lake, with frequent ferries connecting to various towns around the lake's shores.