Lake Como in brief

We hope this brief introduction to Lake Como will be interesting and useful during your stay.

Welcome to Lake Como, one of the most beautiful and fascinating lakes in Europe!

A few interesting facts

How was Lake Como formed?

Lake Como was formed between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age. Enormous Alpine glaciers carved deeply into the valley, creating the lake’s distinctive inverted Y shape. When the glaciers retreated, the valley filled with meltwater, giving rise to Lake Como.

Size

  • Length: approximately 46 km
  • Surface area: 146 km²
  • Lake Como is the third-largest lake in Italy.

Depth

With a maximum depth of approximately 425 metres, Lake Como is the deepest lake in Italy and one of the deepest in Europe. At its deepest point, the lakebed lies more than 200 metres below sea level.

Water temperature

In summer, the surface temperature normally reaches 22-25 °C, making the lake ideal for swimming. At a depth of just 20-30 metres, however, the water remains cold throughout the year, at around 6-7 °C.

Why is the climate so mild?

The mountains surrounding the lake protect the area from cold northerly winds, while the enormous mass of water acts as a natural heat reservoir. Thanks to this special microclimate, palm trees, olive trees, camellias and even citrus fruits thrive here – a truly unusual feature just a few kilometres from the Alps.

The name “Lario”

In Roman times, the lake was called Larius. Even today, many Italians use its historic name, Lario, to refer to Lake Como.

The only island

Lake Como has just one island: Isola Comacina, a small gem rich in history, art and legends.

The lake winds

Tivano – a cool wind from the north that blows in the early morning.

Breva – a warm breeze from the south that generally picks up in the afternoon and is very popular with sailors and windsurfers.

A world-famous destination

For more than two thousand years, Lake Como has fascinated travellers, artists, writers and distinguished visitors from all over the world. Today it is one of Italy’s best-known destinations, famous for its spectacular scenery, elegant historic villas and picturesque villages overlooking the lake.

We hope you will discover Lake Como not only with your eyes, but also with your heart, taking home memories that will stay with you for a long time.

We wish you a wonderful stay at CaFelicita!

Famiglia Gilardoni CaFelicita
RELAX, LAKE & VIEW