p>Nestled in the heart of Lombardy, Lake Como has fascinated visitors for centuries with its breathtaking beauty. Its steep shores, dotted with neoclassical villas and Italian-style gardens, offer a naturally theatrical setting. The winding roads that hug the lake’s contours, built in the early 20th century, seem designed to showcase the very essence of classic motoring.
The lake’s unique geography creates a remarkable diversity of landscapes within a compact area. From the romantic shores of Bellagio to the alpine panoramas of Menaggio, each stretch of road has its own distinct character. This variety allows for the design of driving routes with contrasting atmospheres, where a Jaguar E-Type can alternately display its elegance along plane tree-lined boulevards and its sportiness through the mountain curves.
Italy’s automotive history naturally finds its place in this setting. It was here that Enzo Ferrari came to test his prototypes in the 1950s, taking advantage of quiet roads and inspiring scenery. Milanese manufacturers such as Alfa Romeo also used these exceptional routes for their advertising campaigns, creating an enduring bond between Italian automotive artistry and these sublime landscapes.
The Cartis Method: Precision and Expertise for a Flawless Experience
Our methodology goes far beyond simply identifying picturesque routes. It is about designing an experience where each turn and viewpoint interacts with the history of the place.
The scouting team analyzes the technical characteristics of the roads. The width of the lanes, the quality of the surface, and the curve radii are all parameters that determine which classic cars can safely drive them. A Porsche 356 Speedster will not handle the same routes as an imposing Bentley S2.
Logistics form a key pillar of this approach. Accessibility for vintage vehicles, availability of technical support, and the presence of fine dining and luxury accommodations are all carefully evaluated. This meticulous planning ensures that every experience unfolds seamlessly, allowing participants to focus fully on the joy of driving and the pleasure of discovery.
Cartis Expertise Serving Italian Excellence
A Cartis journey on Lake Como never merely links points of interest. It creates an emotional progression — a crescendo where each stage heightens the previous one. The art of scouting lies precisely in orchestrating these high points while taking into account the characteristics of each vehicle and the expectations of each participant.
The cultural dimension plays a central role in this methodology. Every chosen location must tell a story — architectural, historical, or cinematic. Villa Olmo, an 18th-century neoclassical masterpiece with its geometric gardens overlooking the lake, the San Maurizio belvedere, Villa Carlotta and its botanical gardens, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo with its Belle Époque charm, or Varenna with its medieval lanes — all become natural settings for a refined automotive showcase.
What sets Cartis apart is its ability to unite automotive passion with the beauty of Italian heritage. This cultural synthesis is expressed in every detail — from vehicle selection to gastronomic choices, and through the historical storytelling within the travel journal accompanying each route.
The cultural guidance greatly enhances the experience. Cartis guides, true connoisseurs of the golden age of motoring, weave connections between the vehicles and the landscapes they traverse. They recount the feats of legendary drivers, iconic film shoots, and anecdotes about the historic owners of the villas along the way.
This narrative approach turns every mile into a discovery. The road leading to Villa del Balbianello becomes an opportunity to recall Tazio Nuvolari’s legendary races on Italian circuits of the 1930s. A stop in Varenna offers a reminder that Giuseppe Farina, the first Formula 1 world champion, was born nearby — and of course, that Enzo Ferrari once declared the Jaguar E-Type to be “the most beautiful car ever made.”