Lake Como

There are lakes, and then there is Como. Cradled by the foothills of the Italian Alps, this slender glacial lake has seduced aristocrats, artists and industrialists for centuries — and its appeal has only sharpened with age. The shoreline is a procession of Liberty-style villas, terraced gardens and tiny stone harbours, each village more photogenic than the last. It is no accident that George Clooney chose Laglio for his retreat; the lake's combination of discreet glamour and genuine tranquillity is virtually impossible to replicate elsewhere.

The accommodation here matches the setting. Grand Hotel Tremezzo, with its Art Nouveau facade and floating pool, remains the quintessential Como address, while Belmond's Hotel Caruso in Ravello-on-the-lake offers infinity-pool views that have graced a thousand magazine covers. More recently, the Mandarin Oriental on the eastern shore has raised the bar with a contemporary take on lakeside luxury — think spa gardens tumbling down to a private jetty. Whether you favour a historic palazzo suite or a sleek modern villa, the standard is uniformly exceptional.

Beyond the hotels, Como rewards the curious. Take a wooden speedboat to Villa Balbianello, whose layered gardens appear to float above the water. Linger over a plate of missoltini — sun-dried lake fish pressed with bay leaves — at a family-run trattoria in Varenna. Wander the silk museums of the city of Como itself, a reminder that this region once clothed half of Europe's courts. In spring the azaleas and camellias erupt along every waterfront promenade; in autumn the surrounding peaks blush copper and gold. Lake Como doesn't chase trends. It simply endures, elegant and unhurried, confident that discerning travellers will always find their way back.