Marianne and I were thrilled to being flying to Milan with two of our San Francisco Flight Attendants, Petra and Jaye. Not only are we family, we have been friends for so many years. It’s fun to explore new places together.

With so much to see and do, we were unable to take a nap before setting out to take a one hour train to beautiful Varenna, Italy.

Couldn’t start our adventure without a champagne toast!

We all thought we would take a nap on the train, but we were too excited. Lots of sights to see on the train ride.

Varenna, Italy

Varenna is a picturesque and a traditional lakeside village located on the eastern shore of Lake Como, Italy. The charming old town, is home to elegant villas with botanical gardens and jaw-dropping panoramic views.

So much beauty to take in while walking from the train station to the lake.

The lakeside promenade of Varenna , built between the rock and the water on the right of the wharf, is called the Lovers’ promenade. It is a pedestrian path that leads from the wharf of Varenna to the center of the village.

As we walked, we began to notice the charming little streets going up into the interior of the village. Lots of steps to conquer!

Giardino Botanico di Villa Cipressi

Graceful grounds are located under the stunning edifice of the Villa Cipressi. This botanical garden is draped along the waters of Lake Como. It was a great place to wonder and we loved the picturesque view of the lake. It was breathtaking!

Meditation area in the garden was so tranquil. I could have sat there for a long time and marveled at the view.

We truly enjoyed our visit to the Giardino Botanico di Villa Cipressi. It’s a must do in Varenna.

After indulging in the magic of Varenna, we decided to take a boat ride to Bellagio, known as the Pearl of Lake Como.

The ferry from Bellagio to Varenna took about 20 minutes. Bellagio is popular for its luxurious villas, stunning views, and charming boutique lined streets.

We enjoyed our quick visit to Bellagio. We had to head back to Varenna to catch our train back to Milan.

On our way back to Varenna’s train station, we came across this red heart overlooking the water. It reminded me that a kind and caring friend is what our hearts always needs.

What a grand day we had in Varenna! It truly was magical with all its beauty! We left Varenna with our hearts full.