Feste Lariane

Every classical guitar enthusiast know the piece Feste Lariane by Luigi Mozzani. For all the rest of the world this beautiful piece is rather unknown.
Lario is the Latin name of the Lake Como and Feste Lariane means Parties on the Lake Como.

In the 1906 Luigi Mozzani presented anonymously a Serenata at the musical contest of the Italian magazine Il Plettro, organized by Mr Alessandro Vizzari (guitarist and publisher). This composition won the first prize with golden medal and then it was published with its caption: the notorious Feste Lariane, air with variations. This piece, despite being known today as attributed to Manuel Ferrer, in effect gave him a great reputation, especially abroad.

Lutherie - Mozzani

The Cadorna Line

Not many people know that before and during the first world war, the Italian Army built a military fortified line to prevent a possible Austrian or German attack through Switzerland.
The construction begun in 1916.
The fortified line goes from the Ossola to the Alpi Orobie and includes 72 kilometers of trenches, 88 artillery sites (11 in caves), 296 kilometers of roads and 398 kilometers of mule-tracks.
40000 soldiers worked to build such an impressive work.
The name of the fortified line is due to General Cadorna, that wanted achievement of the project. He was Commander-in-Chief of the Italian army during the first part of World War I.
Here is an interesting hike in the unspoilt Val Varrone near Dervio. The beauty of the nature and the stunning views make this hike noteworthy. The historical interest of the place is a plus that make the hike unforgettable.

What about hiking ?

There is nothing better than a good hike !!!

Here is a nice one starting from Lecco ...

Farewell. ye mountains ...

Farewell, ye mountains, rising from the waters, and pointing to the heavens! ye varied summits, familiar to him who has been brought up among you, and impressed upon his mind as clearly as the countenance of his dearest friends! ye torrents, whose murmur he recognizes like the sound of the voices of home! ye villages, scattered and glistening on the declivity, like flocks of grazing sheep! farewell! How mournful is the step of him who, brought up amidst your scenes, is compelled to leave you! Even in the imagination of one who willingly departs, attracted by the hope of making a fortune elsewhere, the dreams of wealth at this moment lose their charms; he wonders he could form such a resolution, and could even now turn back, but for the hope of one day returning with a rich abundance. As he advances into the plain, his eye becomes wearied with its uniform extent; the atmosphere feels heavy and lifeless; he sadly and listlessly enters the busy cities, where houses crowded upon houses, and streets intersecting streets, seem to take away his breath; and, before edifices admired by the stranger, he recalls with restless longing the fields of his own country, and the cottage he had long ago set his heart upon, and which he resolves to purchase when he returns enriched to his own mountains.

hut what must he feel who has never sent a passing wish beyond these mountains, who has arranged among them all his designs for the future, and is driven far away by an adverse power! who, suddenly snatched away from his dearest habits, and thwarted in his dearest hopes, leaves these mountains to go in search of strangers whom he never desired to know, and is unable to look forward to a fixed time of return!

Farewell! native cottage, where, indulging in unconscious thought, one learnt to distinguish from the noise of common footsteps, the approach of a tread expected with mysterious timidity! Farewell! thou cottage, still a stranger, but so often hastily glanced at, not without a blush, in passing, in which the mind took delight to figure to itself the tranquil and lasting home of a wife! Farewell! my church, where the heart was so often soothed while chanting the praises of the Lord; where the preparatory rite of betrothal was performed; where the secret sighing of the heart was solemnly blessed and love was inspired, and one felt a hollowing influence around, farewell! He who imparted to you such gladness is everywhere; and He never disturbs the joy of his children, but to prepare them for one more certain and durable.
Of such a nature, if not exactly these, were the reflections of Lucia; and not very dissimilar were those of the two other wanderers, while the little bark rapidly approached the right bank of the Adda.

From I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed) by Alessandro Manzoni

Bellagio - The pearl of the lake

Out on the lake a white traghetto, moving

almost without pause from one shore to the other,

a punctual amphibious spider, skeins

into one zigzag the descending

clatter from the campaniles of Bellagio,

of Varenna and Cadenabbia, as though reining

the fragments of experience into one process —

From Rain at Bellagio by Amy Clampitt

Located at the intersection of the three branches of the Y-shaped lake, Bellagio is the heart of Lake Como. The trip to Bellagio is a must for every visitor of the lake.

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Sailing on the lake

Yes, you can explore the lake region by car, bus, even by train, but the best way to enjoy Lake Como is undoubtedly the boat.
With a boat you can see the lake from a complete different perspective, you can wander along the coasts and find the most hidden coves. You can cross the lake and stop in the middle surrounded by a stunning ring of mountains.
If you like modern life you can choose a motorboat, but you will not get the same sensations that a sailing boat can give you.
No pollution, no noise, when you sail you are in complete harmony with nature.
Wind surfers, catamarans, sailing boats can rely on the winds of the lake, the Tivano in the morning (from south to north) and the Breva during the afternoon (from North to South). Wind surfers prefer the strong winds in the upper lake, from Dervio to Gera Lario, Domaso, Colico where thera are the best sailing schools.
If you want to avoid the crowd of the wind surfs you can sail in the centre of the lake, the wonderful triangle Varenna Menaggio Bellagio ... or you can sail towards Como and watch from the water the beautiful villas that were built in the nineteenth century, Villa Melzi d'Eril in Bellagio, Villa Carlotta between Cadenabbia and Tremezzo until Villa Balbianello,
the romantic spot chosen for the second episode of the saga Star Wars.

The picture (asso 99 a domaso) is Fotozambra

Useful links :
Vivere la vela
Lega Navale Italiana

Always enjoying the lake

Lake Como has been my holiday destination since I was 5 ... I won't say how many years ago I first spent my summer there, but believe I discovered Lake Como before George Clooney ! :)
For so many years I have been fortunate enough to enjoy one of the most beautiful spots in Italy!
Even now that I live abroad, I love returning to enjoy the beauty of the lake. Its Y shape makes it unique. Its climate is particularly relaxing, surrounded by the mountains it is sufficiently fresh even during the summer months.
Mass tourism hasn't spoiled it yet, but year after year you can see how property speculation is changing the landscape.

When I compare my pictures taken over the years, it is noticable how the villages are growing and how houses are replacing fields and trees.