Elegant apartment on Lake Como with a large terrace. Carate Urio (COMO)

Starting with the village of Carate Urio. It is small but very nice. The local businesses are most welcoming; especially Giuseppe Fiorino at the Fiorino Hotel. Meeting him is a must. As to the property itself--the best part is a large patio with a spectacular view of Lake Como. However, the problems with the property greatly outweigh the view. Starting with access, the information provided simply does not fairly advise that there is a ninety-step, significant grade to just get to the apartment. It ruined the trip for my wife from the first day; especially given some of the guests we had invited to stay with us. The kitchen is so small only one person can work in there at at a time (when the dishwasher door is open, you cannot get from one end of the kitchen to the other). The wifi is intermittent at best. While we were told that there was a crane on the adjoining property; in fact, it is a total construction zone with the house in front completely covered with construction dressing. The owner did not tell us that the local beach is closed (we were unable to figure out how long that has been). Quite concerning, there was a flood of the property--certainly not the owner's fault (in fact, the owner was quite responsive in terms of getting the apartment dried out and cleaned). But, we had significant property damage and my wife sustained minor injuries. But, when I inquired about insurance, the owner simply would not respond. In sum, the village is great, the house is not. I would look elsewhere.

Surely this must be one of the best locations to stay at Lake Como. The owners are very professional and the house is very clean. The property is stunning, the location is extemely convenient as its very close to the lake and you also get to have the amazing terrace with an incredible view (you only have to climb up a some steps). No need to worry if you drive a car as the parking place is nearby. Carate Urio is very nice and quiet, so if you are looking for something similar, this is the place. I cannot recommend the property enough. Many thanks to the owners for operating everything in such a professional and organized way. I hope I will return to Il Volo very soon.

We enjoyed a most lovely Lake Como vacation with our stay at IL VOLO! Our villa was divine; perfect location to do everything on the lake. Very large, decorated with antiques, each family member enjoyed a separate bedroom with private bath, making getting ready for adventures so much easier! The huge 'cave' living room is very special, built into the mountainside to remain a perfect cool temperature, with controllable cool air vents in the cave walls; it's own natural air conditioning! The deck is expansive, with deck loungers, tables, chairs, umbrellas for sun and GLORIOUS VIEWS! You'll enjoy lovely breakfasts and evening dinners with BIG VIEWS! The location worked out to be surprisingly ideal. The ferry stop is a few minutes walk from the villa. We rented a car, however you can fly into Milan, train to Como, take a lovely boat ride to the house. You just need to be VERY aware of boat times that arrive at URIO, your stop, for all adventures around the lake. We took the boat to Bellagio, Varenna, Torno and so many little beautiful villages as well as the major sites of Villa Carlotta, Villa D'este, all nearby. There are two lovely restaurants very near the villa. You can get food from the large grocery store, a drive away, for dining in, but know you always have excellent dining options just outside your door. We are big swimmers, and IL VOLO is THE place to be. There is a swimming spot directly across the street for quick jumps in the lake, and many convenient access spots to enter the lake along the road. Curate Urio beach club in front of the church is simply magic, and a very short walk from the villa. Lovely grass area, friendly locals, food, beverages, loungers...we enjoyed endless swims in the warm water with afternoon prosecco's on the lawn. Truly unique, compliments of our hosts. When you arrive at the villa, you walk up cobblestone steps to your home. After your holiday you will be in shape! It is doable for most guests, but probably best to avoid for anyone with walking difficulties. Most notable was the kindness and attentiveness of our hosts, Paolo and Laura. They ensure everything is so well organized, answer all questions timely, and are simply delightful people!! They provide excellent resources for sites around the area. The perfect hosts!! Thank you Paolo and Laura, we hope to see you again soon. Il Volo is a wonderful villa, Curate Urio is a very special place and we are so glad we happened upon it.

The owners are very professional and organized. We love the location and want to return soon! Thank you!

We enjoyed our holidays very much. The Appartment was very typical with a great atmosphere and a huge wunderful terrace with a great view to the lake. Thanks a lot also for all the kindness and helpfulness. Hope to see you again in munich . Best regards Julia and family and friends

This was a beautiful summer apartment on Lake Como. There is a grotto living room that is incredible. The host Laura was a pleasure to meet. My only recommendation is bring mosquito spray in summer. Great location for families!

Beautiful Villa in Carate Urio that exceeded our expectations. Laura the proprietor was very welcoming and gracious. Great location and terrific views.

The apartment is large, very clean and has two floors which gives it a lot of room for 5 to 7 people. The terrace is very big and allows a lot of outdoor living. The view at the lake is absolutely beautiful and you can't get enough of it. The family room which is built into the mountain keeps the apartment cool during hot days. It's nice that every bedroom has its own full bathroom. The kitchen is small but big enough to cook in it, and it is very well equipped. The parking space is conveniently only 100 meters away. We didn't mind the steps that one has to walk to the entrance of the apartment since it's the way the houses are built into the mountains. It's part of the charm of the area. The landlords Paolo and Laura are very well organized and the renting process was very easy and smooth. If you know how to drive a boat, we recommend to rent one in Cernobbio. It's the best way to see the lake. There is only one thing we were missing: Carate Urio isn't a town where you can stroll around and sit in outdoor cafes and such since it doesn't have a city center; you have to take the ferry or drive to towns such a Bellagio or Cernobbio. Overall, we highly recommend this apartment.

We just returned from a week stay at Il Volo and the place was absolutely perfect. The view from the patio is breath taking and you are steps away from the lake. The apartment is large with every amenity needed. There are TVs in every room. The bathrooms and rooms were large. the cave like living room hewn out of mountain rocks is great. Carate Urio is a quiet little town but within easy driving distance of Como and all the major attractions on the lake. An added bonus is that the ferry is across the street so getting around without a car is possible. We did have a car and the reserved parking spot was extremely convenient. There are some decent restaurants within walking distance of the apartment as well. I would however not recommend the apartment to elder folks due to the steps needed to access it. We felt very welcome and the owners were awesome during the entire rental process as well as our stay. Strongly recommend this place.