Hello. We are flying in to Milano and spending our first night there. Friends are driving over from France, and together we are driving to Bellano, Lake Como. We would like to avoid having them drive into the city to pick us up. Wondering if anyone knows of a good spot outside the city that would be easy for us to reach via train from Milan Centro and our friends to reach by car. Suggestions greatly appreciated!
Posted by
Firenze
500 posts
Having lived north of Milan several years, I can tell the zone is a real maze. I can think three meeting places that could be logical to minimize backtracking (assuming your friends are arriving from Torino); namely the metro/railway station at Sesto 1° maggio FS, the metro station Cologno Nord, or the railway station at Carnate, half way between Milan and Lecco. The station at Carnate looks like the easier one, small enough to meet easily and not too distant from the main road.
But all these places, all commuters interchanges, would work much better if your friends have a GPS and you both have cell phones to stay in touch. - I am ruling out other options: I do not know how the metro station at Bignami works as it is brand new, while I get lost myself around the metro station at Comasina. The railway station in Monza has scarce parking place. - I cannot think any other landmark easy enough to find for both.
If you and your friends do not feel safe to meet in no man's land, it may be easier to meet at Bellano railway station anyway.
Posted by
Green Bay
20178 posts
Agree with that last sentence. There are direct trains every hour at 20 past the hour from Milano Centrale, with the exception of 11:20 and 15:20, it takes 1 hour and 8 minutes to Bellano and costs 6.70 euro per person. It will make your friends' life a lot easier to meet you at Bellano station, and be just as convenient for you.
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
How about at MXP Malpensa Airport. Zip in off the highway, pick you up and continue north towards Como
Posted by
Firenze
500 posts
Before meeting at MXP airport, consider that Bellano is on the west coast of the lake, while the airport is near Como that is the gateway to the east coast. The way the lake is laid, people driving to Bellano must either pass through Lecco or put the car on a ferry. Meeting in Bellano would be much easier to everybody than meeting at MXP airport.
By the way, have you heard about Andrea Vitali? He is a physician living and working in Bellano, doubling as one of the better Italian contemporary fiction writers. He says that almost all his books originate in a Bellano park near the lake. He just sits on a bench and pretends to do read a newspaper while he listens people around talking. He always comes home with an idea for a new story. :-)