Why visit Lake Como for Easter or Spring time
Easter and Spring-time in general are the most beautiful months to visit Lake Como. It is both quiet and warm. Usually warm enough to sit outside in a t-shirt or light-weight top during the day. As I type (March 15th), it is already 20 degrees here in Argegno on the western shore of the lake. All of the main attractions (villas and gardens) will be open in time for Easter and less busy than in the summer months. All of the restaurants and bars will have re-opened after their winter closure. The winter ferry timetables will have been replaced by the more regular spring ones at the end of March, making it easier to get around the lake. In short, everything is in full swing, but with fewer people and with an extra hour of daylight to enjoy it all when the clocks change on 28th March.
Where to stay
Accommodation is much cheaper than in the summer months – hotel rooms can cost up to 25% less, as April is not yet high or even peak season. Self catering apartments and villas are another great value choice, offering low prices and more flexibility on both arrival days and length of stay. You are not restricted to arriving on a Saturday or Sunday and havong to pay for a full week, when you only want a long weekend or mid-week break. Lake Como Properties are offering some very special Easter discounts on their self catering villas and apartments.
How to get here
Flights are also cheaper, out of peak summer season. Milan has 3 main airports to take advantage of a host of airlines - Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo. Each airport is well connected to public transport links to bring you directly to Como by either train or bus. And of course car hire is simple and the drive usually takes well under and hour.
The first buds are peeping through the soil and the early spring blossoms will be in full bloom by the time Easter arrives. So this is definitely THE best time of the year to visit the stately gardens of Villa Carlotta (Tremezzo), Villa Melzi (Bellagio) and Villa Monastero (Varenna). Camellias, primulas and stunningly colourful azaleas and rhododendrons abound in these beautiful formal gardens.
Shopping and special Easter events
As well as the usual fantastic shopping in Como and the three times weekly market (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday), there are special Easter markets, starting on Holy Thursday, April 1st until Easter Monday April 5th there will be almost 200 colourful stalls drawn from all over Italy concentrate in Viale Varese, Viale Cattaneo and all around Porta Torre area (location of the weekly market)
Also in Piazza Cavour (the main lakeside piazza) you' ll find the traditional Easter Market from March 27th to April 11th, with many stalls selling handicrafts and woodwork items.
In nearby Lugano (Switzerland), the home of the chocolate Easter bunny there is a whole series of events over Easter weekend, again with colourful stalls throughout the city and folk music, as well as the traditional c Concert of the Civic Philharmonic Orchestra in Piazza Battaglini, on Sunday April 4th, at 10.30am.
Religious processions
Join an Easter Sunday or Holy Week procession, which take place in even the smallest villages along the lake. Solemn religious processions are held in many towns on the Friday or Saturday before Easter and sometimes on Easter Sunday. Many churches have special statues of the Virgin and Jesus that play a big part in the processions. The Good Friday procession starts in Como at 3pm.
Public Holidays
National holidays are Easter Monday (la pasquetta), April 25 (liberation day), May 1, and June 2 (Festa della Repubblica). On these days, most shops and services will be closed but many major tourist attractions are usually open.
So what's stopping you. Come and join us and enjoy the spring sunshine on Lake Como
Photographs courtesy of http://www.dr-jonathan.com/
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