Lake Como on screen: from Star Wars to 007, where to eat by the lake

Few places have a film career like Lake Como. Its villas, gardens and lakeside towns have appeared in Hollywood blockbusters and Italian films. Here are the most famous locations and where to eat with a view of the water.

A lake made for the big screen

• Star Wars – Attack of the Clones: the Villa del Balbianello in Lenno is the planet Naboo, backdrop to Anakin and Padmé’s wedding;
• Casino Royale (007): again Villa del Balbianello, where Bond recovers;
• Ocean’s Twelve: the lake’s villas frame Danny Ocean’s crew;
• House of Gucci: Villa Balbiano hosts the luxurious scenes of the Gucci family.

Where to eat on Lake Como

Lake Como cuisine is refined and tied to the lake. Try:

• Risotto with perch, the signature dish;
• Missoltini (dried shad) with polenta;
• Pizzoccheri from nearby Valtellina;
• The great red wines of Valtellina.

Many restaurants overlook the water directly, for a truly cinematic dinner.

An itinerary between villas and villages

Bellagio, Varenna, Lenno and Como are the classic stops, between ferries, gardens and historic residences. A weekend as elegant as the stars who chose it.

In short

Lake Como is an open-air set where the luxury of cinema meets the flavours of the lake. Discover the other films and their food locations.