First he ignored a line of millionaire prospective buyers willing to pay Euro 20million for his luxury villa. Now he's shrugged off the unearthing of a 225kg cache of Second World War ammunition some 15 metres away. Actor George Clooney is clearly so attached to his $10million home in Laglio, on Lake Como in Italy, that he's not selling up anytime soon.
And perhaps that's understandable. Most people who come to Italy's lakes region are in no hurry to leave. Other well-known faces who live here include fashion designer Donatella Versace, Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson, rock star Sting, Ryanair owner Michael O'Leary and soccer coach Jose Mourinho, while the family of late designer Gianni Versace sold their lakeside villa for US$40million.Such is its star quality that parts of 007 movie Casino Royale as well as Star Wars blockbuster Attack of the Clones were filmed here while Cernobbio, on the lake's south-western banks numbers the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Angelina Jolie and Yves St Laurent among its fans.
Since Clooney moved into his mansion in Laglio in 2002, a few miles north of Cernobbio, visitors have included Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. The screen star also acquired a crumbling building next to his for an extra US$4million that has been fixed up into a guesthouse for his famous friends.
Lake Como, in Italy's Lombardy region forms an upside-down "Y" that starts from the foothills of the Alps near the border with Switzerland and stretches south for around 30 miles. Its superlative views along with the Alps forming a stunning backdrop make this one of the country's most sought-after locations in which to buy. Among the most expensive as well. Clooney's presence precipitated a boom in the housing market that at its peak meant a 25% acceleration in prices in little over two years. Notwithstanding the worldwide property crash, the situation here has remained firm, fuelled by demand from wealthy Milanese and Swiss financiers to the north. Lake Como has no shortage of Euro 15million properties if you are after a sprawling home on the banks of the lake with a movie star for a neighbour.
Yet the good news is you don't need to have a millionaire's budget to buy a home around the lake. In Clooney's adopted home Laglio, a 36-apartment lakeside complex recently became available with prices ranging from Euro 137,600 to Euro 400,000. In Lenno, some 15km up the same coast, new-build apartments came on the market in 2009 starting at Euro 165,000. Meanwhile, in nearby Tremezzo, Euro 250,000 should cover a lake-view two-bedroom holiday apartment.
Yet properties become even more affordable as you head north. Areas on the north-west banks such as Pianello Lario, Musso and Dongo are a great option on a Euro 275,000-300,000 budget.
In Pianello Lario, a lake-view complex just 500 metres from the water's edge and complete with communal swimming pool offers prices from Euro 110,000 for one bedroom, Euro 145,000 for two bedrooms and Euro 205,000 for small villas. The Alps being close at hand means rental potential is pretty strong, up to around Euro 3,500 a month. The village of Gravedona, some four miles away is more affordable still. Here, expect to pay around Euro 100,000 for a two-bedroom flat with a view over the water, although you may have to sacrifice being close to the water.
Lake Como has attracted visitors from all walks of life for thousands of years. The Roman poet Virgil, who would have known it as Lake Lario, made mention of its beauty. Some years on, Roman statesman Pliny The Younger had two villas here. The Romantic poet Shelley wrote in glowing terms about how Como "exceeds anything I ever beheld in beauty". And author Henry James was left awestruck as he gushed: "One can't describe the beauty of the Italian Lakes, nor would one try if one could."
It's easy to see why. This is the country's third largest following Garda and Maggiore and is just under 150sq km of calm blue water overlooked by mountains, hills and woods, a picture postcard of superb beauty.
The vista is majestic from almost every step of the 178km shoreline. However, it's hard to beat its central section around Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna, where the lake breaks off into two forked legs. Bellagio is known by locals as "La perla del lago" (The pearl of the lake) and many Italians maintain there is no town more stunning in all Europe. Take in its charming medieval lanes, gazing at the view, or hop on a ferry to Menaggio on the west bank or Varenna on the east, the peaks of the Alps soaring majestically in front of you, and you would be hard pushed to disagree.
Lake Como is served by six airports: Lugano in Switzerland is just over 30 minutes away, while Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate and Orio al Serio in Bergamo are all within 90 minutes. Slightly further afield are two more, in Brescia Gabriele D'Annunzio (some 1hr 40mins from Como) and Verona Valerio Catullo in the Veneto region (just over two hours).