Tremezzo
Just beyond the peninsula, beginning with Lenno (which has two interesting 11th century Romanesque structures: the church of Santo Stefano and the octagonal baptistry), is the start of the "Tremezzina" Riviera or "Riviera delle Azalee" which ends slightly after Cadenabbia. The Riviera, with a magnificent view of the central basin of the lake, is studded with villas and hotels surrounded by verdant parks and gardens. At the end of the Riviera is Tremezzo. This important tourist resort is favored by its particularly mild climate and by the landscape quality with its characteristic arcade appearance along the shore. In a scenic spot at the end of the town is the Villa Carla, one of the most and well frequented locations in the Larian area. Positioned at the summit of a stepped terrace garden, it was constructed between the end of the 7th century and the first half of the 8th century for nobleman Giorgio Clerici. In 1801 it was purchased by Giovanni Sommariva who enriched it with art (from Canova to Thorvaldsen, from Appiani to Hayez) and expanded its Italian garden with a splendid English park filled with azaleas and rhododendrons. Today the villa is state property and since 1929 it has been the management of the "Ente Autonomo Villa Carlotta" who maintained it and schedule visits.