Visiting Italy's Lake District: Part VIIa - Loveno and Playing Bocce

When we arrived at Loveno, we discovered that we had done well to take a cappuccino break because the restaurant where we were to have lunch was not expecting us so early.

To while away the time until lunch, Guide Po took us on a walking tour of Loveno, an old and still fairly unspoiled little village

with narrow cobbled streets

full of interesting byways

with wrought iron window guards

and signs.

Loveno has several historic villas.  Among them is the beautiful Villa Mylius Vigoni,

with its 19th century garden designed by Giuseppe Balzaretto.

The villa is part of a residential complex that includes the Villa Garovaglio-Rizzi.

The complex is the property of the German Government, which has made it into a cultural center.

Nearby is the parish church of San Stefano, with its 18th century facade and

16th and 17th century paintings framed by a baroque interior.

What I liked was the ornately decorated and multicolored altar.

We made our way through the narrow streets back to the restaurant,

where we dined sumptiously.  Rising from the table with an effort, we went outdoors to learn about bocce.   Related to boules, played in Switzerland where I live, and pétanque, played in Provence in southern France, bocce is played generally on natural soil or asphalt courts. 

It can be played between individuals or teams.  We "played" - I use the term very loosely - in teams.

The rules of play can be found here.  Under the tutelage of Guide Po and Swiss Guide P, the "teams," whose composition varied even in the middle of a game as team members drifted in and out, managed to enjoy themselves.  But I believe that the watchers had the most fun.

Followng the bocce interlude, we walked back down to Menaggio, passing by beautiful flower-covered villas

until we reached Piazza Garibaldi near our hotel where a small flea market

was being held for the benefit of charity.