04/11/2019
✨The lake is surrounded by many charming villages, but the atmosphere in Varenna is very special. 🏞
The village, one of the most beautiful in the region, is a very romantic and charming place, overlooking the waters of the lake. In Lombardy, it is perhaps the most suitable destination if you want to treat yourself to an alternative weekend. The beating heart of the village is it's central square, overlooked by the Church of San Giorgio. The building, dating back to the thirteenth century, was built on the foundations of an ancient Roman temple and is a splendid example of medieval Lombard architecture.
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A few steps away, on the opposite side of the square, we can admire the Church of San Giovanni Battista, dating back to the eleventh century. Both religious buildings preserve, inside, precious frescoes and some fragments of paintings of ancient origins. Walking through the narrow streets that branch off from the historic center of Varenna, we arrive close to the lake and remain fascinated by Villa Monastero: impressive architectural complex of '500, was once a convent of Cistercian nuns. Today it is one of the main tourist attractions, with its house museum and botanical gardens that house many plant species. Nearby there is also Villa Cipressi, a testimony of the late Renaissance period. With its terraces that slope down to the lake, it offers the perfect location to admire the view.
But the most romantic place in Varenna is undoubtedly the Lovers' Walk: a short metal arched walkway, covered with climbing plants that, in hot periods, turns into a blaze of colors and smells. The structure, fixed in the rock, overhangs the lake and leads to the landing stage. From here, the landscape offered by the small village is splendid, and behind it we can also admire the Castle of Vezio, with its square tower. ✨
