On a boat trip around Lake Como we noted lots of lovely villages all hugging the water line, including Menaggio which makes an excellent base to stay because of its transport links. Ferries arrive here from the northern and southern ends of the lake and cross the water to Varenna and Bellagio, whilst buses run to Lake Lugano and all villages along the lake. The town itself has a pretty lakeside promenade and harbour to sit around on an evening and there are several bars and restaurants in Piazza Garibaldi.  Nesso is a small village built on the lush and steep banks of Lake Como in the. It is about halfway between the towns of Como and Bellagio. Laglio is on the western shore of the south-western branch of Lake Como, about 9 miles from the town of Como. Lenno, this small, tranquil village is based around a little horseshoe bay looking across to the village of Bellagio. It has a lovely promenade peppered with restaurants and cafés where you can pause for a drink whilst admiring the spectacular views. It is the southernmost of a string of a “riviera” of adjacent resorts, Menaggio, Cadenabbia and Tremezzo being the others just to the north. Nearby is Azzano, where Benito Mussolini and his mistress Claretta Petacci were shot dead in 1945. Lenno has a market on a Tuesday morning, probably the best on the lake, selling local produce as well as souvenirs, leather and clothes. There is also an unspoilt pebble beach for swimming and an artificial sandy beach at Lido di Lenno. Cernobbio lies at the foot of Monte Bisbino, it is a small town located northwest of Como and is a popular holiday resort because of its proximity to the city of Como. Cernobbio is also home to some of the most famous Lake Como villas, including the Villa d’Este and Villa Erba. Tremezzo is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Lake Como, situated on the western shore of Lario, just in front of Bellagio, with a stunning view of the central basin and the Grigne. Since 1947, the village, along with Lenno and Mezzegra, has become part of a unique commune, known as Tremezzina. The marvellous villas and huge hotels built from the XVIII to the XIX century, have made Tremezzo an international tourism landmark., Varenna is probably one of the most popular villages on the eastern side of the lake, it is very similar to Menaggio with its steep narrow alleyways, but its pace of life seems more calmer and relaxed then Menaggio, as well as Bellagio. The villas all painted bright pastel colours with red pantile roofs which form a lovely reflection on the lake.