Visit to Mandello DeLario 31 July

[Bulldog9]

Looks like I have been given 'approval'  for a 1 day excursion to Mandello Delario during our trip to Europe this summer.  So, I have the whole day. I looked at the factory site, but looks to be too early to book for July.

Never been, so I figured I'd ask from the 'experts'  If you had a full day, what would you do and where would you go? RIght now, all I have in the list are to go to the Factory/Museum and rent a Guzzi.

[inditx]

Sounds like a great start, enjoy!
inditx

[Pescatore]

I would point out that the person who gave the approval might be interested in staying longer than you.
It is a beautiful area to tour with many interesting towns along the lake shores.  Bellagio is easily reachable by ferry.
We stayed in Varenna, just to keep away from the rally crowd.
One day I drove randomly around Mandello and stumbled on the Mistral factory. Don't know if they give tours.
The Agostini dealership is another curiosity.

There is a long post here from the 100th celebration in 2022.

[Bulldog9]

I would point out that the person who gave the approval might be interested in staying longer than you.
It is a beautiful area to tour with many interesting towns along the lake shores.  Bellagio is easily reachable by ferry.
We stayed in Varenna, just to keep away from the rally crowd.
One day I drove randomly around Mandello and stumbled on the Mistral factory. Don't know if they give tours.
The Agostini dealership is another curiosity.

There is a long post here from the 100th celebration in 2022.

We are doing 2-3 nights in Milan, and 2-3 nights at Garda, with day trips in the areas. Me and my brother in Law will head up to Mandello in the AM, spend the day and down to Milan after dinner.  My wife and her sister will spend the day in Bellagio. So much to see. I suggested to do Mandello 2-3 nights rather than Milan, but was out voted ;-)

This was a surprise. I knew we were going to Paris for the Olympics, but didn't know they were planning Italy. I generally just go along......... Fortunately SWMBO and I like the same things, so it works out 99% of the time.

I've heard that there are several other Guzzi things to do in the area.

[scra99tch]

If anything maybe head up to Bormio and Stelvio Pass about 2 hours away highway driving for probably 1 hours.  Usually the other side of the pass has too much traffic so just have a bite to eat at the top or head down the other pass right next to it into Switzerland.  First town has a bunch of cafes and is beautiful.

Umbrail Pass and it's just as fun.

[Tusayan]

Milano is not a particularly attractive city, so I’d second the idea of a one day trip there, to check out the Duomo like everybody else, basing somewhere else like Mandello. 

You might note that the reason places like Mandello came into existence, long before Guzzi existed, was for the rich Milanese to escape the city in summer!  And the AC isn’t much better today.

[pehayes]

I suggested to do Mandello 2-3 nights rather than Milan, but was out voted ;-)

I would have suggested the City of Como at the bottom of the left leg of the lake.  Easy access from Milano or from the Malpensa airport.  Easy ferry to Bellagio.  Easy ferry to Varenna and then a quick train to Mandello del Lario.  Much cheaper and cleaner than Milano.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Alfetta]

I stayed in the Park Hotel in Abbadia Lariana for 2 nights
It's back yard is the Guzzi park and has great access to the water, live bands, and food tents
The Guzzi museum is rather small and only took me a few hours, so i drove up the east side of the lake on a castle hunt. The most fun i had on the trip. and some crazy cliff roads to boot.
The next three nights I was at lake Garda, in the town of Desenzano, took a ferry to Sirmione, and i strongly recommend a visit. Wife liked Garda and Verona for the shopping
I rented a VW up. and the worst part of the trip was the drive back to Milan. Stay off of the highway if you can.
apparently motorcycles and scooters are very plentiful, and appear not have to obey any road laws.

PS..   3 months after i got back home, I received a traffic ticket from Italy, No description of the discrepancy, just...."violation had been reviewed and i was found guilty", please remit 80 euros within X time or fine is 800 euros....

[Huzo]

Ahhh, the good old castle hunt, just don’t try saying it when you’re drunk.

[Vecchio Lupo]

Ive been to a few Open Houses and when stationed in Stuttgart, I regularly went down to that region. The only thing is ...at least when I was there 2020 m the Museum is only open for a few hours on Fridays. Do your homework. otherwise you might face locked gates, Best of luck, well worth it

[twowheeladdict]

Visiting the factory would be interesting, but I would love for it to cap a great ride around the perimeter of Lake Como.

[Huzo]

Visiting the factory would be interesting, but I would love for it to cap a great ride around the perimeter of Lake Como.

It is and it does.

[Tusayan]

If you’re going for a ride in the area around Lago di Como, making a loop around the lake seems an unlikely choice, unless you’re doing it purely to see the towns and views, stopping here and there for an ice cream    The roads are busy and congested.  On the anniversary year I was trying to make it to Mandello from Andermatt via Menaggio, more or less directly on the other side of the lake.  My first choice was to take the ferry but I missed it and rode around the top instead.  It’s a bit of a grind.  Another time leaving Mandello I decided to ride up the peninsula to Bellagio and back down before heading across the border to Lugano and north. Pretty views but congested. 

What you might do for an entertaining ride from Mandello is head north to Chiavenna and go from there into Switzerland on one of two passes: Splugen is tight and treacherous but a good ride, Maloja is more open, but good fun and takes you to the Engadin Valley and eventually to St Moritz (about two hrs from Mandello).  Do not turn east down the Valtellina unless you want more congestion (it is one of few east-west valleys, so lots of traffic) plus lots of heat in the summer. It’ll eventually take you towards Stelvio but it’s not the most fun way to get there.

I’d agree that Como itself is a good place to stay if you want to enjoy the lake and also have good access to Milano.

[Canuck750]

From the Moto Guzzi Museum web page:

Museum opening time
Monday to Thursday: 3.00 pm -4.30 pm (local time)

Open only for guided tours, advance booking required
Friday and Saturday: 10.00 am -6.00 pm (local time)

Open to general public
The bookshop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., every Friday and Saturday.

 

We inform our kind visitors that Moto Guzzi Museum will be closed for winter time from Wednesday 22nd November 2023 to Thursday 29th February 2024 included. It will open again on Friday 1st March 2024 with the usual opening hours.



The next town to the North is Abbadia, home to Retro Guzzi, they have a half dozen or so beautifully restored Guzzis in their show room, right across from the train station.

For the Anniversary I stayed at this beautiful B&B, super clean, very nice host, right in town near the lake

Picobello Lago

1 Via Al Meria, 23826 Mandello del Lario, Italy

[moto]

One day is not much. I'd spend more time in the museum, scrutinizing the old technology of the suspensions, etc. Lying down on the floor to do that was okay when I visited, and is one of my favorite memories.

I rode a Guzzi 1200 up along the west side of the lake from the landing of the Bellagio ferry at Cadenabbia all the way to Switzerland. The first part was interesting and a bit worrisome in the tiny streets, with residential doors opening directly into traffic. The part to Switzerland was a bore.

One ride I can recommend is to take the route of the old Circuito de Lario, which constitutes about 25 miles of twisting mountainous roads, with 300 curves in total (they say). It was fun to imagine the racers from the 1920's and onward flying around them at full throttle. There are also a number of small towns on the route, with places to stop to have an espresso, look around and possibly talk. (There is a new "Circuito de Lario" race now, but I know nothing about that one.) Look here for a map of the circuit (it's very close to Mandello at the bottom of the lake): https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuito_del_Lario. The original race was six laps of the circuit, so perhaps you could try to improve your own time by taking it more than once.

Don't miss the excellent gelato stand at Gelateria Costantin in the old Roman center by the lake. You should concentrate on experiencing Italy as such instead of cramming in too much riding, even on a Guzzi. (Italians don't ride them much.) A smaller motorcycle would be more fun.

[erice]

One thing to bear in mind is that it can be VERY hot at the time of year you are going, close to 40 C. Riding in that heat can be unpleasant, particularly if the roads are busy.

My son and family came over last year (I live just north of Milano) and we took the train to Como (city) to take the ferry to Bellagio. Of course, that day the fast ferry wasn't running (which happens without notice, probably mechanical). It's far too long from Como to Bellagio on the regular ferry in the heat, since most boats have no AC. We just went a few stops, got off, and found somewhere to change and go for a swim.  The important thing in Italy is always be ready to improvise! That day was close to 40C. Como is also nice to wander around, less crowded than Milano and a bit cooler.

I've never had any issues with traffic doing the circuit of Como (lake). It's not a long ride (5-6 hrs with a stop for lunch), but then I've avoided doing it in summer so tourist traffic may increase that time. Just avoid the major highways if possible, and keep to the older secondary highway.

While much of the riding in Italy, such as passing cars along the center line, is technically not legal, be aware that it's common practice. If in doubt follow another bike to get a feel for what can be done. Cars generally watch for bikes and allow them to get by. Similarly bikes should keep to the right of the lane and let cars get past is they're taking their time (this is actually required).

Enjoy your trip!

[stubbie]

Heading to Mandello de Lario in May. Anyone got any hotel or B&B spots in Bellagio or Varenna or even Mandello that they may pass on.

[Bulldog9]

Thanks for all the feedback and advice!

[Pescatore]

Heading to Mandello de Lario in May. Anyone got any hotel or B&B spots in Bellagio or Varenna that they may pass on.

https://www.michelangelobnb.it/
Varenna is small but charming. Some good restaurants,  but don't neglect the salumeria at the square.
Has ferry port.