(R. 28). 412 M. Affori, with a parish-church containing an old copy of Leonardo da Vinci's 'Vierge aux Rochers'. 512 M. Cormanno-Brusuglio. The train now ascends the right bank of the small Seveso as far as Seveso San Pietro. - 10 M. Varedo (590 ft.).

From (1312 M.) Seveso San Pietro a branch-line diverges to (114 M.) Camnago (p. 18), a station on the St. Gotthard railway, which our line crosses near (15 M.) Meda. Near (181/2 M.) Carugo-Giussano the country becomes hilly. 20 M. Arosio (985 ft.; Alb. dell' Angelo), pleasantly situated amid vine-clad hills, some of which are crowned with villages and country-houses.

2112 M. Inverigo (1150 ft.; Alb. Gigante), a pretty village to the W. above the valley of the Lambro. On a hill rises the Kotonda, one of the finest villas in the Brianza. The Villa Crivelli is famous for its cypresses. Beyond (23 M.) Lambrugo-Lurago the train ascends the valley of the Lambro. 251/2 M. Merone-Pontenuovo, the junction of the Lecco and Como line (p. 202). The Lago d'Alserio (855 ft.) is passed on the left and the larger Lago di Pusiano (845 ft.) on the right. The train enters the charming plain of Erba (Piano d'Erba).

2712 M. Incino-Erba, the station for the village of Incino and the small town of Erba. Incino, the ancient Liciniforum, is mentioned by Pliny along with Bergamo and Como; it contains a lofty Lombard campanile. Erba (1055 ft.; Albergo Crotto Rosa, good; Alb. della Stella) lies a little to the W., on the road from Como to Lecco, built on the terraced slopes of a small hill in a fertile region. Among the villas on the N. W. side is the Villa Amalia, commanding a charming view of the Brianza. From Erba to Como, see p. 202.

The *HIGHROAD FROM ERBA TO BELLAGIO crosses the Lambro, which has been canalized and conducted into the Lago di Pusiano, a little to the S.E. Immediately afterwards the route to Bellagio diverges to the left from the road to Lecco, and runs to the N., past (2 M.) Longone al Segrino (1225 ft.; Alb. Rocca), on the W. bank of the narrow Lago del Segrino, to

5 M. Canzo (1270 ft.; Alb. Croce di Malta, clean), which is almost contiguous to (6 M.) Asso (1395 ft.), the two numbering together 2000 inhabitants. At the entrance of Asso is a large silkmanufactory (Casa Versa).

The road now gradually ascends in the wooded Vallassina, the upper valley of the Lambro, passing (91/2 M.) Lasnigo (1865 ft.), Barni (10 M.; 2085 ft.), and (11 M.) Magreglio (2415 ft.; Alb. Monte San Primo). The first view of both arms of the Lake of Como is obtained from the eminence near the (12 M.) chapel of the Madonna di Ghisallo (2475 ft.).

Delightful survey of the entire S.E. arm (Lago di Lecco, p. 209) after passing the first church of (13 M.) Civenna (2045 ft.; Bellevue, open from April to Oct., with view-terrace; Ristorante

della Posta, with bedrooms). The road now runs as far as (15 M.) Guello (inn) along the shady brow of the mountain, which extends into the lake at Bellagio. Beyond the chapel good views are obtained of the W. arm of the Tremezzina (p. 207) to the W., of the Lago di Lecco, and finally of the entire lake from the Punta di Bellagio (p. 208) to Domaso (p. 212).

The road winds downwards, passing the Villa Giulia (p. 209) and the churchyard of Bellagio. 1812 M. Bellagio, see p. 207.

A longer route, which will reward the pedestrian, is by the *Monte San Primo (p. 209). Ascent from Canzo with a guide in 4-5 hrs., descent viâ Guello (see above) to Bellagio 3 hrs. (fatiguing, over débris).

28. From Milan to Como viâ Saronno.

281 M. RAILWAY (Ferrovie Nord Milano) in 11-2 hrs. (fares 3 fr. 45, 2 fr. 20, 1 fr. 65 c.; return-fares 5 fr., 3 fr. 20, 2 fr. 25 c.). At both the Stazione Ferrovie Nord and the town office (p. 152) through and return tickets (p. 203) may be procured for Brunate, Cernobbio, Cadenabbia, Bellagio, Menaggio, Bellano, and Colico.

As far as (3 M.) Bovisa, see p. 196. Farther on we enjoy a good view of the Mte. Rosa group, to the left.

13 M. Saronno (700 ft.;_ Albergo del Commercio; Leon d'Oro), a large village on the Lura, with 8700 inhab., a large factory of lace, and locomotive and machine works, is known in Italy for its excellent gingerbread (amaretti). A quadruple

avenue of plane trees leads W. from the station to the (4 M.) celebrated pilgrimage-church called the SANTUARIO DELLA BEATA VERGINE, an early - Renaissance structure by Vincenzo dall'Orto (1498), with a campanile by Paolo della Porta (1516), while the façade and other additions are in a pompous baroque style (17th cent.). It contains a series of admirable *Frescoes.

The paintings in the interior of the dome represent a concert of angels, and are by Gaudenzio Ferrari. Round the drum are several wooden statues by Andrea Fusina. The frescoes immediately below the drum are by Lanini, those in the next section by Cesare del Magno and Bernardino Luini (SS. Rochus and Sebastian). The remaining frescoes, the best of which are the *Adoration of the Magi (in the choir) and *SS. Apollonia and Catharine (in the small apse), are all by Luini, who, as the story goes, sought an asylum in the sanctuary of Saronno after killing a man in selfdefence, and had to work at the bidding of the monks.

Saronno is a station on the line from Novara to Seregno (p.85) and the starting-point of a branch-line of the Ferrovie Nord viâ Castellanza (p. 85) to (141⁄2 M.) Cairate-Lonate-Ceppino, in the industrial Olona valley. From Saronno to Varese and Laveno, see R. 35.

221/2 M. Fino Mornasco (1075 ft.); 251, M.Grandate-Breccia, junction of the Como and Laveno line (p. 202); 27/2 M. Camerlata (p. 18). We descend, enjoying a pretty view of Como and Brunate, to (28 M.) Como Borghi.

2812 M. Como Lago, the main station (comp. p. 199).

199

29. Como.

Railway Stations. 1. Stazione Como San Giovanni or Stazione Ferrovie dello Stato, the principal station (St. Gotthard Railway), 2 M. to the S. W. of the quay (tramway, see below). 2. Stazione Como Lago or Ferrovie Nord Milano, 350 yds. to the E. of the quay (branch-lines to Saronno and Milan, R. 28, and to Varese and Laveno, p. 202). 3. Stazione Como Borghi, of no importance to tourists.

Hotels (comp. p. xxi). Near the harbour: *GR.-HÔT. PLINIUS (Pl. p), Lungo Lario di Levante, of the first class, with bathing-establishinent, R. 4-10, B. 12, L. 4-5, D. 6-7, P. from 12, omn. 11/2 fr. (closed Nov.-Feb.); *GR.-HOT. VOLTA (Pl. v), R. 4-5, B. 11⁄2, L. 3, D. 42, P. 8-10, omn. 1 fr.; *HOT. METROPOLE ET SUISSE (Pl. m), with café-restaurant, R. 2-5, P. 8-12, omn. 1 fr.; *FORCATI'S HOT. D'ITALIE ET D'ANGLETERRE, R. 32-5, P. 9-12, omn. 3⁄4-1 fr.; *HÔT. BELLEVUE (Pl. b), with restaurant, R. 2-3, B. 114, P. 72-9, omn. 4-1 fr.; these four in the Piazza Cavour. At the principal station: ALB. STAZIONE, R. 11/2-2 fr., clean.

Restaurants (comp. p. xxiii). Barchetta (with bedrooms), Piazza Cavour; Ristorante San Gottardo (R. from 1/2 fr.), Piazza Volta; Bristol, at the Hot. Bellevue (see above). Cafés. Caffe del Bottegone, Birreria d'Italia, Piazza del Duomo; Caffè - Ristorante Sbodio, Caffe-Ristorante Plinio, Piazza Cavour. CONFECTIONER: Rebecchi, Via Piinio.

Bathing Establishment. Terme Comensi, on the lake by the Giardino Pubblico (medicinal baths also in summer). Post & Telegraph Office, Via Unione 22; branch at Piazza Cavour 7. Photographs, etc. at Romano & Vittani's, Via Plinio 4.

Banks. Banca Commerciale italiana, Società Bancaria Italiana, both Via Vitt. Emanuele. PRO-COMO (Touring Office Gondrand), Via Plinio.

Cabs. Per drive in the town 1, 4 pers. 11/2 fr.; per hour 3 or 4, each addit. 2 hr. 1/2 or 1 fr. To Blovio (1-3 pers.) 3, Cernobbio 32, Villa d'Este, Albate, or Torno 4 fr.; return-journey or for each / hr.'s waiting 50 c. extra. Trunk 25 c.

Tramways. 1. Stazione San Giovanni (see above) - Piazza CavourFunicolare; every 12 hr., 10 c. 2. Piazza Cavour-Via Dante-San Martino. 3. Piazza Cavour - Piazza del Duomo - Piazza Vittoria Piazza San Bartolomeo San Rocco - Camerlata (Castello Baradello, p. 18); ev. 14 hr., 20 c. Branch-lines from Camerlata via Albate (p. 18) to Cantù (p. 202), and viâ Lurate - Caccivio (p. 202) to Appiano and Mozzate (p. 223). 4. Piazza Cavour-Villa Salazar (Villa Pulmo, p. 201) - Ponte Chiasso; ev. 14-1/2 hr., to Villa Salazar 15, to Chiasso 35 c. 5. Piazza Cavour-Villa SalazarTavernola Cernobbio (p. 204) - Maslianico (p. 205).

Cable Railway (Funicolare) from the Stazione Funicolare, in the Borgo Sant' Agostino, 7 min. to the N.E. of Piazza Cavour, to Brunate (p. 201), every 1/2 hr. (hourly in winter); fares, up 1/2, down 1 fr. (before 8 a.m. and after 7.30 p.m. 75 c.), return-tickets (valid for 10 days) 2 fr. 30 c. Steamboats (30 c.) ply 8 times daily between Como and Moltrasio (p. 205); the intermediate stations (not always touched at) are Como Funicolare, Tavernola, Cernobbio, Pizzo, Blevio, and Torno.

Como (665 ft.), a flourishing industrial town, the capital of a province, and the see of a bishop, with 34,300 inhab. and large silkfactories and dye-works, lies at the S. W. end of the Lake of Como (p. 204), and is enclosed by an amphitheatre of mountains. The small stream Cosia enters the lake here. Como is the Roman Comum, the birthplace of the the elder and the younger Pliny. The physicist Count Alessandro Volta (1745-1827), whose statue by P. Marchesi (1838) is in the Piazza Volta, to the S.W. of the quay was born at Como in the house marked 'Casa Volta' on the Plan BAEDEKER'S Northern Italy. 14th Edit.

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