Head to Lake Como and live the glamorous life like George & Amal Clooney

IT has views as dramatic as the Norwegian fjords, but with the temperature turned up.

Fringed with towering mountains, it is no wonder that upscale Lake Como in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region is home to the villas of the rich and famous.

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The Clooneys were in residence at their 18th-century holiday home when I was visiting the region.

But as my invitation to drop by for a Nespresso failed to arrive, I took a villa-spotting lake cruise to see how the other half live instead.

A number of villas are owned by the government and open to the public.

And they all have one thing in common — as much attention is paid to the lavish gardens as to the interiors.

After observing the official “no-go” area around the Clooney villa, I arrived at Villa del Balbianello, originally a 13th-century monastery.

The last private owner was adventurer Count Guido Monzino, who led the first Italian expedition to climb Everest.

The villa, which has featured in a number of films including Casino Royale and Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones, is filled with treasures from the Count’s adventures, including the sleigh from his 1969 expedition to the North Pole.

On the way to the next villa, the boat made a short stop at Isola Comacina, a small island formerly an enclave for artists. At the modest open-air bar, a glass of wine was just three euros and included a bowl of crisps. The lovely lake views were an added bonus.

Villa Carlotta was next. Built in the 17th century, it has many art treasures as well as famous botanical gardens, including more than 150 species of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. While the old cedars and sequoias provided welcome shade on a hot afternoon.

Shop-lined steps

The villa was a few minutes’ walk from my hotel in the village of Cadenabbia with stunning views across the lake to Bellagio.

It’s an ideal place for strolls along the shore or more challenging hikes into the mountains.

Across the Alps, the lakeside town of Lugano in Switzerland makes a great day trip.

The town of Como, famed for motorcycles and glass, has an impressive marble cathedral crammed with treasures, ancient paintings and tapestries, but it is best known for silk.

While the silk thread is now imported from China, the local industries of weaving, printing and producing silk items are still recognised as some of the best in the world and you can pick up some top-quality bargain souvenirs.

While in Como, I also hopped on the funicular railway to Brunate, a small town 750 metres above sea level — the views are breathtaking.

Visitors to the towns along Lake Como often use the public boat services.

There are three options. Motorboats provide a slower service for those wanting to chill out and enjoy the lovely views.

The hydrofoil offers a faster way to get to your destination, while for motorists there is also a ferry service.

I took a boat trip to Bellagio, a romantic, elegant and largely pedestrianised town.

The old buildings, shop-lined steps, boutiques, cafes and formal gardens put the town on the “must see” list for visitors.

While there I had lunch at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. Owned by a Swiss family, the hotel contains their personal art collection, which visitors are free to enjoy.

Past guests have included JFK and Winston Churchill, who have suites named after them, and George Lucas stayed there while filming his 2002 Star Wars movie.

Later I strolled through the manicured gardens of Villa Melzi, which line the shore of the lake, once again proving that here impressive gardens are as important as imposing villas.

It is easy to live the glamorous life in Lake Como. But it is a bit harder to hang out with George and Amal while you do it.

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