Attractions

Chords & Canvas

In 2008, Bellagio held an exhibition of watercolor paintings that met with such success that the town has decided to make this festival an annual tradition. This week-long exhibition showcases the works of watercolor painters from around the world. It is held at the end of April or early May (contact the tourist office for the exact dates) and closes out with a competition to see who has created the most beautiful painting.

Across the lake, Menaggio held a guitar festival in 2007 that was repeated the following 2 years, and the town is now looking to make this a yearly event. Held the last weekend of August, the festival is 3 days of free concerts held in churches and a temporary tent pavilion. The festival has already begun to attract well-known international musicians, but lesser-known guitarists also perform in the local bars during the festival. There are also workshops where different playing styles are discussed and demonstrated. Menaggio recently instituted a shuttle service that makes the run on the state road to and from nearby Tremezzo and Cadenabbia late into the evening, giving those lodged farther down the lake a chance to enjoy an evening in Menaggio when public busses are no longer operating, without having to spring for a taxi to get back (4€ one-way, 6€ round-trip).