It’s a spectacular summer on the shores of Lake Como

The task of lighting up the summer on Lake Como traditionally falls to the fireworks that will light up the sky, set off from floating rafts, during the Festival of St John on Isola Comacina on 27 June. As well as disembarking to stroll through its archaeological park amongst the ruins of the Basilica of Sant’Eufemia, the remaining walls of the church of Santi Faustino e Giovita, San Pietro in Castello and Santa Maria col Portico, as well as admiring the recent restoration of the Artists’ Houses built in 1940 to a design by the architect Pietro Lingeri – originally entrusted to the Brera Academy – visitors will be able to experience the oldest sacred and secular festival in the Lake District. William Turner, too, was captivated by the charm of the southern part of Lake Como, as demonstrated by the exhibition of his watercolours – on loan from the Tate Gallery in London – currently on display at the Palazzo del Broletto and the Pinacoteca Civica in Como. The recent reopening of the Giardini a lago in the area around the telescope at the Tempio Voltiano is also a marvel, offering travellers from all over the world a promenade with an impressionist botanical charm.