A Travel Diary of a quick Roadtrip I took from Germany to Lake Como in Italy for the annual classic and vintage car event Concorso d Eleganza in Cernobbio. Villa d’Este, not only a prime location on Lake Como but its also a prime Hotel, with a marvellous garden. And most importantly, home to one of the most prestigious events in the automobile world, Concorso d Eleganza. Held every May, in the meantime, I have visited the Event multiple times, for the first time in 2013. The reason for this very Roadtrip, and a heavy “blast from the past”. As I started Blogging almost half a decade before I have launched this English language travel blog, I have accumulated loads of still unpublished content. Therefore, and as going on trips in the foreseeable future still feels impossible, its finally time to share this content. Content aged like fine wine, hopefully. Back in May of 2013, I received a second-generation Suzuki Swift Sport, a perfect car for an Italian Roadtrip. It’s a zippy little car, and fun on serpentines, reliable on the highway, and advantageous in car parks and small Italian roads. Back then it was such a highlight to connect an iPod to a Car to listen to an own customized playlist. Even though it’s only roughly 300 km or 186 miles from my Home at Lake Constance in Germany to Lake Como in Italy, the journey time felt even less than it actually was. Since this first Roadtrip to Concorso d’Eleganza I went on this very same trip two more times, but then with stops along the way. Those Roadtrips will as well be published in the near future.
All the Blogposts will be linked with this post once they are published, in the upcoming days!
Day 1: Roadtrip from Lake Constance to Lake Como, Dinner by the Lake
After work was finished early on a Friday, a friend and I bought some last-minute snacks and headed south. First to Austria, to soon switch to the Swiss Motorway for good. We soon passed Liechtenstein on our left, and the scenery soon turned from lush green to colourless rocks, until it eventually started to snow. No surprise, the elevation reaches more than 1.6 km above sea level at some points along the route. Once you have started descending in Mesocco, not only the views get better, you’re also just 80 km shy of the swiss-Italian border in Chiasso. After a 3.5 hour journey, it was time to check into the hotel, and later soak up the last rays of Italian sunshine of the day whilst enjoying Italian Pizza.
Blog Posts:
- Best Western Hotel Continental Como (before refurbishment)
- Hydrofoil on Lake Como departing Como (incl Video)
- Pizza Restaurant by the Lake in Como
- Where to park your car in Como near Lake Como / City Centre
- quick Sightseeing Walk: Como
- Instagram Accounts to follow before visiting Como / Lake Como
Day 2: Attending Concorso d’Eleganza for the first time, admiring Ralph Lauren and his Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic Coupé, and a horrendous drive to Bellagio for a sunset Dinner
A Day possibly couldn’t be more exciting. Admiring all the rare and exclusive cars at the Concorso, getting an individual yacht shuttle ride on the Lake, seeing not only Mr Ralph Lauren himself but also his stunning and hella expensive Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic Coupé, but also ending the day with an adventurous drive to Bellagio for a Spaghetti Dinner by the Lake right in time for sunset.
Blog Posts:
- Where to park your car for a visit to Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este and Villa Erba
- first time at Concorso d’ Eleganza – What to expect at Villa Erba and Villa d’Este
- all the Cars and Vehicles at Villa Erba 2013 Concorso d’Eleganza
- all the Cars and Vehicles at Villa d’Este 2013 Concorso d’Eleganza
- Taking the scenic Route to Bellagio at Lake Como by Car
- How to travel from Como to Bellagio at Lake Como (public transport)
- Sunset Dinner at Hotel Bellagio
Day 3: saying Good Bye to Lake Como, for now
After another Italian Breakfast at Best Western Hotel Como, it was soon time to head back to Germany. The departure just shortly before 11 am in Como was planned perfectly for a midday/lunch stop in Lugano. Stretching the legs, discovering yet another city, having a quick bite before the final 200 km mostly driven by cruise control as the speed limit is VERY strict in Switzerland. More on that in another Blogpost/Roadtrip Travel Diary. Luckily we had a relatively small car to soon find a suitable parking spot right in the city centre near the shores of Lake Lugano.
Blog Posts:
- typical Italian breakfast – what to eat in the morning in Italy
- Where to park your car in Lugano near the Lake / City Centre
