From north-Bellinzona, highway exit/junction “S. Vittore”, for the Old Mountain Pass, along an all-curves-road into the woods.
Stop at the S. Bernardino Pass.
Then go downhill to the village of Splugen, where you can stop at “Suretta” for food and wine. If you have time, have a thermal bath in Andeer, and if you want to impress your "centaur-lady", spend the night at the "Weiss Creutz".
In Splugen go uphill towards the homonymous mountain pass, and you’ll reach the “Chiavenna Valley”, passing through a striking road, from where you’ll find yourselves on the northern part of Lake Como (with the possibility of going back from Como/Lugano/Lecco)