Sleeps 4
2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 ensuite shower rooms, 2 extra beds
Location: Lake Como
Saturday to Saturday on a weekly basis
Grocery store, pizzeria, restaurant and bus stop in S. Siro
Lakeside water sports facilities: boat rental, sailing, surfing
Mooring available a few meters distance
Scenic trekking routes from the lake
Golf course/tennis court in Menaggio 5 km
Closest grocery 200 meters, closest restaurant 1 km
Lugano 35 km, Como 40 km, Milan 90 km
Formerly the house of a fisherman who liked to live close to his livelihood, this three-storey house rising from the water's edge has been charmingly restored to provide a family or friends a unique spot for a lakeside holiday. While porter service is available to help schlep your luggage, guests make their own way past San Siro's castle and down the cobbled steps to arrive at the 'front door', which is actually at the side and on the first floor. The light streaming through the windows and the watery horizon ensures you have arrived at exactly the place you need to be.
Across from the entrance a partially covered terrace with BBQ is furnished for outdoor meals, while inside the house conveniently on this level is an open-plan kitchen/dining room with access to a large panoramic terrace. Leaving no doubt about the house's origins, a painted wooden boat hangs upside-down from the kitchen ceiling. Up one level are the living room, a bathroom with Jacuzzi and separate shower, and a double bedroom with an ensuite shower room. On the top floor are a second double bedroom with ensuite shower room and a lofted area with two additional twin beds mainly suitable for children.
The lakefront is public, as testified by the fishermen's perches seen near the water in front of the house. Cast a line or rent a boat from the nearby harbour and go exploring. The lake is shaped like an upside-down "Y" with the beautiful towns of Como and Lecco situated at the ends of the southwestern and southeastern branches respectively. The small towns of Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna are located at the intersection of the three branches of the lake, with a triangular boat service operating between them.
Casa del Pescatore is situated on the northwest side of the lake, close to Switzerland. San Siro is a charming old village with lots of character; here you can still visit the beautiful castle with its arches dating back to 1000 A.D. or take many a gorgeous walk locally. You can also easily reach Swiss Lugano one lake over and its lure of shopping.
The best way to visit the rest of Lake Como is by boat: a public boat service that takes you to Como's historical centre and and private boat services are also available for hire. Como has been an important silk manufacturing town for many centuries and has a fascinating Silk Museum; to this day Como's silk is still considered to be among the best for quality. Another nearby excursion is to Bellagio, the "pearl of the lake", which has often been described as the prettiest village in Europe with its charming historic centre. From here you can also visit the beautiful Villa Melzi with its ornamental gardens, or sail over to Comacina Island - the only island on the lake. From Como you can also take a funicular ride to Brunate, a hill-top town with magnificent views over the city, the lake and its surrounding mountains. On the other side of the lake you can visit Lecco, the town mentioned by Alessandro Manzoni in his famous book "The Betrothed".