Visit Cadenabbia - Lake Como
Cadenabbia and Griante represent the luxurious heart of Lake Como due to the presence of wonderful villas and prestigious hotels. The border between the two hamlets is Hotel Britannia. To the north is Griante, to the south Cadenabbia. The first hotel for tourists was born in 1802 from an old inn, a refreshment point for wayfarers and merchants, which has become today Grand Hotel Cadenabbia.
The first English tourists were soon followed by artists, intellectuals and aristocrats from all over Europe. Stendhal set some passages of La Certosa di Parma in these places, and also the famous music publishers Ricordi owned Villa Margherita here, where Giuseppe Verdi composed some arias from La Traviata.
Even Queen Victoria of England, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and Prince Umberto of Savoy all stayed at Cadenabbia.
What to do, to visit and to see in Cadenabbia
Greenway
Start from Hotel Britannia and go southward, keeping the lake on your left. You are now on the Greenway, a tourist path that is always well-marked by signs: often these are metal plaques on the asphalt, other times blue and yellow signs. After the Hotel Britannia you will immediately find an Anglican Church: it was the first Anglo-Saxon church built in Italy, opened in 1891 to meet the demand of British tourists, who were already numerous on the lake.
From May to September, services are conducted by Anglican priests every Sunday. Moreover, lots of concerts and theme nights are held here throughout the year, as the church has a magnificent organ and excellent acoustics.
A few meters after the church, a magnificent park with a villa just anticipates all the wonders you will see along the whole way: firstly Villa Lucia, but also the residence restaurant Belle Isole, and a series of delightful clubs and small porches where you can stop for a drink or an ice cream by the lake.
You will then arrive at the majestic Grand Hotel Cadenabbia and, shortly after, at Villa Carlotta.
This is where the municipality of Tremezzo begins. Want to continue the greenway from the municipality of Tremezzo? CLICK HERE.
Villa Carlotta.
Built at the behest of Marquis Clerici of Milan in 1700, it later passed to Count Sommariva of Lodi, who enriched it with a collection of statues by Canova and other important sculptors. Albert of Prussia's wife, Princess Marianne, took it over in 1856 to give it to her daughter Carlotta as a wedding gift.
Today, the villa belongs to the Italian Republic and is managed by the Villa Carlotta Institution (Ente Villa Carlotta), which opens it to the public during the tourist season.
Inside, the villa displays paintings by Vikar, Hayez, Lordon and Migliara. Sculptures include works by Canova, Thorwaldsen and Acquisti. The mansion is also famous for its precious botanical garden: when the azaleas bloom, it offers a spectacle simply unique in the world.
Museum, villas, monuments and sights
Events, festivals and music in Cadenabbia
Beaches and lidos, where to swim in Cadenabbia
Coming Soon
Best treks and scenic hiking trails in Cadenabbia
If you want to go trekking, hiking or nordic-walling on Lake Como and discover trails above the Cadenabbia mountains, we recommend the team HIKING LAKE COMO. Francesca and Mario are professional and passionate certified guides, as well as enthusiastic local people. Contact here
How to get to Cadenabbia