Getting There

Airport

Fly into Milan/Malpensa airport if at all possible. It’s closer than Linate.

Driving

A rental car is highly recommended. You can get around the lake using nothing but ferries, but you’ll spend half your time waiting, and at night they can be few and far between. It’s also a steep climb from the ferry dock back to the villa when you come back. Driving in northern Italy is easy. The drivers aren’t crazy, the roads are excellent, signage is good, and GPS works perfectly. Don’t be intimidated by the narrow roads around the lake. Just slow down at the corners and you’ll be fine. Drive time is approximately 45-minutes to 1-hour, depending on traffic.

Directions To House

1. Follow directions to MILANO-VARESE. Take the highway (SS336) in the direction of Milano.

2. After 14.5 kilometers, take the VARESE exit onto the A8 freeway.

3. Stay to the right on the A8 and take the first exit to COMO-CHIASSO.

4. After 14.2 kilometers, take the COM0-CHIASSO exit onto the A9 freeway.

5. After going 19.0 kilometers and passing through 5 tunnels, at the very end of the 5th tunnel, take the LAGO DI COMO exit. Get in the right lane before you enter the tunnel. IMPORTANT: IF YOU MISS THE EXIT YOUR NEXT STOP IS IN SWITZERLAND.

6. Follow the road down the hill. At the first two roundabouts, follow the signs to CERNOBBIO.

7. Drive through CERNOBBIO and wind along the lake.

8. As the road turns left away from the lakefront, you’ll come to a minor intersection. Follow the signs to MENAGGIO and ARGENGO.

9. After 2 kilometers, turn left at the light, toward TOSNACCO.

10. Wind up the hill. After two switchbacks, you’ll see a parking area.

11. Drive through the parking area. Villa Meridiana is the grey house on the left just past the parking area.

12. If you get lost, use your GPS to guide you to Ristorante del Fagiano in Moltrasio. Once there, Villa Meridiana is just across the street.

Parking

There is off-street, gated parking for 4 cars at the Villa. Additional parking is available on the street.