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Cernobbio, Como, Lombardy, Italy

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Cernobbio is a municipality in the Province of Como in the Italian region of Lombardy, located on the shores of Lake Como and at the foot of Mount Bisbino and is known as a tourist resort with magnificent and renowned mansions. The most famous are Villa d’Este, where royal members have already stayed (today is a luxury hotel, furnished with a princely decor and surrounded by a charming garden) and Villa Erba, dating from 1800 and today it was transformed into a congress center which still preserves the magnificent rooms and the elegant park.

Tips

You can reach the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the summit of Mount Bisbino, at 1300 meters and rolling over there, you will get a magnificent view of Cernobbio with the lake and its colorful houses.

If you like walking, there is a small marina where you can stroll around by taking a good ice cream or simply enjoy a typical Italian dish in one of the restaurants that surround the harbor.

You can stay there because there are several hotels and from there you can visit the different towns and villages that surround the lake. For example, the city of Como is just 4 kilometers away.

Civitavecchia, Rome, Italy

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Civitavecchia is located in the province of Rome, city and seaport, stopover of all major cruise companies, port that also serves Corsica and Sardinia. There is Fort Michelangelo whose upper part of the ‘maschio’ towers was designed by Michelangelo. The structure has 4 towers with a diameter of 21m and the walls are between 6 and 7.6m thick. The St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral was built by the Franciscans on a small existing church. There is a remarkable statue that all those who visit the city will always have in memory, with a height of 9 meters, it shows us a sailor kissing a nurse who reminds us the image of Times Square at the end of the Second War world which had been immortalized by a photo-journalist.

Tips

If you want to enjoy an excursion to Rome and the Vatican it is possible, tit takes almost 90 minutes by car. You could also take the train (1h06).

If you are cruising, the best option would be to take their excursion because you might run out of time and not arrive in time for the departure of the ship.

If you like the terms, you will find an archaeological site ‘Taurine Terms’ a few kilometers from the city and if you want to take a bath, go to the terms of Ficoncella (ancient Roman terms that still work). You could  take a taxi to get there.

If you just want to have a quiet holiday, the city offers you a sea promenade with some beaches and a calm sea, bars and restaurants where you can enjoy having a good meal or the boutiques to do some shopping.

Colossus of St. Charles Borromeo, Arona, Italy

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The Colossus of St. Charles Borromeo (said Sancarlone) is a statue of over 30 meters high located in Arona on the Sacro Monte of San Carlo, considered a symbol of the city. San Carlo Borromeo was born on October, 2nd, 1538 in Rocca di Arona and in 1565 he became archbishop of Milan and he gave material and spiritual assistance especially during calamities such as famine and plague. He died in 1584 and was beatified in 1602 and canonized in 1610. In 1624 the works for the construction of a sacred hill and also a huge statue visible from Lake Maggiore which celebrates the memory of the saint, were started. It was designed by Giovanni Battista Crespi and was built with copper sheets hammered and assembled with nails and iron rods while the head and hands were made of bronze; being Bernardo Falconi of Bissone and Siro Zanella of Pavia, the sculptors. In 1698 it was finished and blessed. The statue is 23.40 meters tall, but it has a granite pedestal of 11.70 meters which make it one of the largest statues in the world and the monument can be visited inside. With this statue they wanted to represent the “gigantism in faith.”

Tips

The statue is open to the public, you can climb through a first spiral staircase and then another right as a stepladder to get inside the head of St. Charles. You can pay general access to get to the foot of the statue and enjoy a beautiful panoramic view that it is really worth or add a few euros to go up to the interior top. For children under 6 it’s free.
From Milan you can reach Arona by train on the Milan-Domodossola line.
If you have to wait a few hours to catch a plane, it is a good opportunity to go to know the statue because Malpensa airport is located only 23 km from Arona.