Il Garovaglio is a ground-floor apartment with a fantastic Zen Garden and its own private garage, right in the centre of Como — two things you'll struggle to find anywhere else in the historic centre. It is a short 10 minute walk from Como Cathedral (Il Duomo) and just a short hop to Lake Como with all of the wonderful bistros, bars and pizzerias. The apartment is stylishly decorated and fully furnished with all that you might need, be it for a long weekend or a longer stay — and there isn't a single step anywhere.
If it's a lazy time you are after, look no further than the master bedroom which has a large, comfortable bed with direct access to the garden where you can relax in the morning with a cup of coffee or a glass of fizz in the evening. There is also a double sofa bed in the living room, a retractable single bed in the office area and the kitchen is well-equipped for real Italian cooking. Whether you are staying with us for work or pleasure, there is a mini office space to accommodate any internet browsing you may need to do, a complimentary laptop to use and even a printer (yes, we've got ink and paper!). Be sure to enjoy the garden while you stay with us. With sunshine during the day into the early evening, if you don't want to leave the comfort of the apartment, you can sunbathe in private or just enjoy an aperitivo and lunch on the terrace.
PARKING Free private parking in the middle of Como — and we know how rare that is. There is a private, secure garage underground that is yours alone, with an electric vehicle charging point, so you can arrive at the lake with a full battery rather than hunting for a public charger. Access from the garage to the apartment is easy, via the lift, and there are no steps at all. Size: 5,10m long, 2,4m high, 2,40m wide (16.7ft long, 7.9ft high, 7.9ft wide) Take special note of the height though — roofboxes on a 4x4 may be too tight a squeeze!
MAIN BEDROOM All bed linen and towels are provided free of charge. The king-size bed has been described by our guests as exceptionally comfortable (size 170cm x 200cm). Also in the room: a chair, wardrobe, safe, hangers, bedside tables and lights. The bedroom is 16 sqm (172 sqft)
LIVING ROOM The sofa can be opened and it becomes a comfortable double bed, King Size 160x198 – perfect for a stay with teenagers or maybe close friends. It sits in the open living area, so there's no separate door. There's a 49 inch QLED Ultra HD smart TV. The Netflix and Amazon Prime apps are installed and ready to go — just sign in with your own account (and don't forget to log out when you leave!)
OFFICE AREA / EXTRA BED You can use the office area which houses a desk, chair, laptop and printer. The desk can be opened and you will find a single bed inside (size 85x175) which is perfect for the smaller members of the family. It comfortably suits anyone up to about 165cm tall, so it's ideal for children and younger teenagers rather than a tall adult.
The apartment is at its best for two adults, or a family of four to five. Two couples sharing works well too, if you're happy with one pair in the living room.
BATHROOM The bathroom is spotlessly clean with a great ceiling shower, two sinks, toilet and bidet. Available for guest use are a complimentary hairdryer, toilet paper, bath mats, towels, shampoo and shower gel.
KITCHEN We appreciate that on your break you will want to sample all the delicious food Italy has to offer. If you want to stay in the apartment though, you'll find everything you need to cater for yourselves. There is an induction hob (pans available), a Nespresso machine (to channel your inner George Clooney) with complimentary coffee pods and a moka. All our guests can enjoy a free glass of wine/fizz on arrival as we provide a complimentary bottle of wine along with a bottle of water. Water from the tap is of course free and we'd encourage guests to use this as it helps reduce use of plastics! If you do decide you need to wash a few items of clothes we have a washer/dryer at your disposal with free detergent and softener. Forget washing those dishes too – we have a mini dishwasher that can do the hard work so you don't have to.
GARDEN The 40 sqm (430 sqft) Zen Garden has 8 chairs, a table, a parasol and two deck chairs. It is a safe and secure space even for mini-tourists and a space to be enjoyed for all the family, whether it's a long lunch or an al fresco dinner.
INTERNET Free fast broadband WiFi at 83 (real) Mbps download and 16 Mbps upload. The router is in the bedroom and the internet connection is not shared so the speed is guaranteed. There's a laptop you are free to use too.
AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING The apartment is equipped with air conditioning throughout at your control. This also functions as heating during the autumn and winter months and with underfloor heating throughout, the ambient temperature is always pleasant.
CHILDREN Children are always welcome and we provide an infant travel cot, toys, children books, two high chairs and plug covers for extra safety. Suitable for children (2-12 years) Suitable for infants (under 2 years) The garden is fully enclosed, so you can let them out without worrying.
ACCESSIBILITY AND MATURE GUESTS The apartment is accessible and entirely on one level, which makes it a great choice if you have a little more trouble getting around but still want to enjoy all that Lake Como has to offer. There are no stairs or steps anywhere, there is a lift from the garage and the entry path is illuminated. Entry door: 90 cm width Internal doors: 78 cm width Door windows to the garden: 190 cm width There are no grab rails and the shower is not roll-in, so please do ask us about your particular needs before you book — we'd rather talk it through with you.
PETS We're pet-friendly and well behaved dogs and cats are welcome on request. Bowl, pet bed and cat litter can be provided on request. Because we disinfect the apartment fully afterwards for the sake of future guests with allergies, pet stays carry a €35 anti-allergy cleaning charge and a separate €150 refundable security deposit.
LUGGAGE On departure, if you don't want to carry your luggage around, you can leave it in the centre of town at BAG & GO LAKE COMO, 9 minutes walk away (we hold no responsibility for luggage held here but other guests have used this service).
SIZE The apartment is 85 sqm (915 sqft) The garden is 40 sqm (430 sqft)
CHECK-IN Check-in is from 2pm to 8pm. If you need to arrive after 8pm there is a €35 fee to be paid before arrival and it needs to be arranged.
Self check-in option: when you arrive at the building all you have to do is to ring the bell. We'll ask for your ID to ensure you are who you say you are, but then the process is simple!
We have the ability to open the apartment remotely and talk to you through the speaker. We aim for a no hassle check-in process as we know how important it is to have a smooth start to your holiday! Easy: no app, no codes, no complicated tech: just push a button!
TOURIST TAX €3 per person per night. Free for children below 14 years. Free after 4 nights.
QUIET The apartment is extremely quiet and there's no noise. The adjacent road leads to Brunate and as it's one-way, traffic is light for most of the day apart from peak times. The noise is limited by the fence in the garden and double-glazed windows and doors in the apartment. You can be sure of a good night's sleep, even as a light sleeper, with floor to ceiling external blinds that are controlled automatically.
ECO FRIENDLY The house is Energy Classification "A" (least consumption and carbon footprint). Appliances are also all in class "A". The electric energy is from 100% renewable sources. The toilet paper is recycled. Coffee pods are biodegradable.
LIGHT Both the bedroom and the living room have big windows allowing lots of light in.
PRIVACY AND SAFETY There are no security cameras in the building or apartment. There is a surrounding wall, CO2 detector, armoured door, personal safe, fire extinguisher, door blocker and a first aid kit.
GUEST ACCESS AND INTERACTION You have complete access to all areas in the apartment, the garden and the garage. Whilst we no longer live in Como, we are always on hand if you need assistance. If you need advice on things to do, places to visit or restaurant tips, simply drop us a message and we will respond immediately.
Since the building is quiet and secure, you can be assured of absolute privacy whilst you stay there. In the event of problems, we have full remote access so you never need to worry about being locked out!
We are always available for any help you may need, but we won't come to the apartment unannounced. Total privacy and total assistance.
EXTRAS Bed linen and towels on arrival: Included Bed linen and towels change: on request for €30 Refundable security deposit: €350 per stay Late check-in: €35, to be arranged and paid in advance Pets: €150 refundable security deposit and €35 anti-allergy cleaning fee Child bed: Included High chair: Included Internet: Included Breakfast: Not provided Transfer to Malpensa in minibus up to 8 guests: €125, available on request
Registration details: IT013075C2UKW6SNI5 CIR 013075-CIM-00155