While the current building and its gardens date back to the late 19th century, its history goes back into the 12th century as a site of a Cistercian monastery. The villa has now been transformed into a museum surrounded by a botanical garden that extends for almost two kilometers along the lake shore. You can view hours of operation and buy tickets in advance at www.villamonastero.eu.

The area around Riva Garibaldi, Riva Grande, and Vecchio Porto is where you will find Varenna's picturesque main lakefront. You can also find a small beach here where you can rent kayaks.

In this old military out-post sitting on a bluff overlooking Varenna, you can explore its gardens, walls, and dungeons; climb its tower to get a 360 degree view of the lake and it's surrounding mountains; and watch falconry demonstrations. Before you go, know that it's a steep 20-25 minute hike from Piazza Martiri, so don't forget some comfy shoes! Visit www.castellodivezio.it/EN/home-en.html for more information.

You can explore this natural gorge created 15 million years ago thanks to a system of footbridges attached to the towering rock walls above the rushing waters below. It is located in the town of Bellano, about 5 miles north of Varenna.

Also known as "The Wayfarer's Path", this is an ancient Roman footpath which runs for 45 km along the eastern coast of Lake Como. This walking path offers the chance of enjoying some peaceful time deep in the stillness of nature. Some points of interest include the previously mentioned Vezio Castle and Orrido di Bellano. However, for more information on the different routes you can partially hike from Varenna and their respective points of interest, visit www.varennaturismo.com/en/sentiero-del-viandante/.

If you want a more serene escape from the hustle and bustle of the more heavily-trafficked villages of Varenna, Bellagio, or Menaggio, consider spending some time in Lierna, a very small, quiet fishing village south of Varenna. You can take the train or drive. Here, you can walk along the lakeshore, relax at a pebble beach called Riva Bianca, explore the area around the Castello di Lierna, or walk through the medieval hillside hamlets in the area.

Only a 15-minute ferry from Varenna, often referred to as the Pearl of Lake Como, Bellagio is arguably one of the most famous towns on Lake Como. With that said, it can get quite crowded! Spend hours strolling through it's picturesque streets, one of the most famous being Salita Serbelloni, or walk to Punta Spartivento, which is at the end of the peninsula, offering views of neighboring towns surrounded by towering mountains. You can also visit the gardens of Villa Melzi and Villa Serbelloni.

This is another town where you can just stroll endlessly through ancient squares and idyllic lakefront promenades. Points of interest include the Church of Santa Marta, and the Church of Santo Stefano, which also serves as the backdrop to Via Calvi, a road lined with small boutiques and craft shops. If you're up for some hiking, consider visiting Loveno, Val Sanagra, and Croce. Visit https://menaggio.com/en/trails/menaggio-and-its-villages-itinerary for a suggested path to visit several of of Menaggio's surrounding hillside hamlets.

In addition to the previously mentioned Villa Monastero (Varenna), Villa Serbelloni (Bellagio), and Villa Melzi (Bellagio), consider visiting some of these other villas:

Located in Tremezzo, a 30-minute ferry ride from Varenna.

Located in Lenno, a 35-minute ferry ride from Varenna.

These villas are worth mentioning but are quite far from Varenna:

- Villa D'este (Cernobbio)

- Villa Erba (Cernobbio)

- Villa Bernasconi (Cernobbio)

- Villa Olmo (Como)