37. Lake Como

It began as a glacier at the beginning of the last ice age. When the glacier melted, the basin beneath the Grigna Mountains was filled with crystal clear water. This is what we now know as Lake Como, one of the world's most beautiful bodies of water.

Over a hundred miles around, the lake bed has a unique shape, almost like an upside down "y." The southwest branch is called Como. There the lake's main city, Como, is located. Alessandro Volta, the Italian inventor who revolutionized the use of electricity, was born here. Lecco, the southeast branch of the "y," carries a serene beauty all its own. It's easy to see why influental Italian author Alessandro Manzoni in 1827 set his famous historical novel I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed) here.

Calico, the lake's northern spoke, is perhaps the most stunning of them all, with incredible views of mist-covered mountains dotted with villas. The city of Bellagio, located at the intersection of the "y," may be the ultimate spot to view the lake in all its grandeur. It is ironic that the most opulent hotel in garish Las Vegas now carries the name of this serene and tranquil place.

Leonardo da Vinci was inspired by the natural springs at Fiumelatte. Franz Liszt was so overwhelmed by the beauty of Bellagio, that he sat down and wrote his homage to Dante and Beatrice on the spot. Poets Maggi and Carlo Porta praised the incomparable "Bianco Secco di Montecchia," a dry white wine from Brianza. The lake's shores have been home to many a wealthy aristocrat, who decorated the surrounding areas with luxurious gardens and villas.

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