A tour guide at the back of the boat was pointing to some of the sites as the craft raced toward Bellagio (the real village not the hotel in Vegas). Italy’s lake region is one of the most picturesque spots in a country already stunning with beauty both designed by nature and by ancient architects.

Lake Como’s shore is rich with stories of kings, saints, artists and even Benito Mussolini who was gunned down nearby. Sometimes history can be mind-boggling especially when its characters flow as quickly as a motorboat, but there was one name that gave a rise to all the passengers.