Daniele Corti and Davide Bareggi met many years ago when they were schoolboys. They built their friendship over the years at punk rock concerts, on walks in the woods and over long dinners with good food and a fair amount of wine.
Even when their ways parted as they embarked on their own paths in life, Davide to pursue a degree in philosophy while building a career in human resources, and Daniele travelling the world and working in international resorts, they kept in contact due to their shared passions for mountains and good food.
In 2016, during one of their many lunches together, Davide confessed to Daniele how tired he was of seeing all those tourists in the centre of Como who, wandering aimlessly, risked missing out on all the area’s hidden beauties and local traditions. In short these people had no contact with the true soul of Lake Como. Almost without noticing they were setting in motion a project that would soon become Slow Lake Como. From that day they began working on plans to set up unusual activities with the aim of revealing to curious friends and tourists the things that make this place really special.
Along the way they met Sara, a brilliant marketing strategist focused on sustainable tourism. She would become the third pillar of the project and so it was that within just four months they had created their first tour 'in the footsteps of the smugglers' of Lake Como. Since then much time has gone by and now there is a very enthusiastic team of around fifteen people who conduct tours, visits, cooking classes and much more.
Slow Lake Como now actively works in partnership with institutions and small businesses that share their same principles of slow tourism, which involves respect for the environment and the cultural, artistic and monumental heritage. It is important for them to join forces to work together for the development of the local economy, providing services that promote a heritage rich in resources to be revalued, rediscovered and protected. Slow Lake Como is aimed at those that are interested in delving into the traditions, rediscovering hidden gems, and exploring and safeguarding the story of little-known but fascinating places and historical events. All of this is carried out with an eye to the protection of the environment, and using sustainable means of transport with the least possible environmental impact.
Slow Lake Como organises walking tours well off the beaten tourist track in search of the true soul of Como and its lake area, inviting participants to appreciate and savour the moment, the landscapes and its people, with a calm intensity. The idea is to provide a platform for authentic experiences through sharing and encounters between the travellers and the local host communities, each of which has its own traditions and peculiarities. Not to be missed are the guided tour to Castel Baradello, built in the Middle Ages; the walks in the Spina Verde Regional Park, home to trenches, forts and hidden landscapes; a visit to Villa Carlotta, known the world over for its marvellous gardens, art treasures and incredible spring blooms. In addition to these there are the itineraries that take in visits to local farms, tastings and courses, including the excursion to the Sanagra Valley, with tastings of local products, and the panoramic Wine Tasting tour, guided by a sommelier who teaches wine-tasting techniques and tells the stories of the local wines. All this is and more is Slow Lake Como, which can be summed up with 'Live slow and taste the present'.