Italian Lakes sightseeing
Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta
The Queen of the Lake, Stresa, on the western shore is a fashionable resort at the foot of the Mottarone peak. Visitors will enjoy its immaculate, garden-lined promenade, island excursions, a cable car ride to Monte Mottarone for spectacular views of the lake, and the old quarter where the narrow cobbled streets are lined with shops and eateries.
Baveno, also on the lake's western shore grew in popularity in the 19th century, and in 1879 was even visited by Queen Victoria.
Milan with its Gothic cathedral and fashionable shopping is easily accessible by train as a day trip from Stresa, and the Lake Maggiore Express train-and-boat journey also from Stresa (April to September) boasts magnificent lake and mountain scenery.
Lake Orta's shores have been inhabited since Roman times and even though it is a small lake, there's a delightful boat ride out to the enchanting island of San Giulio where interesting 15th century frescoes abound in the Basilica and visitors will delight in walking the narrow streets that encircle the island.
Lake Como
The lake is shaped much as an upside-down letter Y with the towns of Como and Lecco sitting right at the end of the southwestern and southeastern branches respectively. The small towns of Bellagio, Menaggio and Varenna are situated at the intersection of the three branches of the lake, and a boat service followinga triangular pattern operates regularly between them.
Lake Garda
The picturesque lake-side town of Limone on the northwestern shore is a magical place with old fishermen's houses, narrow winding streets and delightful lemon groves.
Just northeast of the elegant resort of Salo, is Gardone Riviera which maintains much of the elegance that drew royalty in the late 19th and 20th centuries when it was the most fashionable resort on the lake. Gardone's promenade is still lined with intellectual cafés and artistic trattorias offering the charms of a bygone era.
In the south, Lake Garda's most famous resort, Sirmione, enjoys an enticing setting on a narrow peninsula that juts 4km into the lake. Its old town boasts the photogenic Scaligera Castle accessed via a traditional drawbridge.
Further picturesque towns and lakeside villages can easily be discovered during lake cruises and scenic drives around this delightful area including Desenzano, Tremosine and Malcesine. During the summer months, opera lovers will delight in a trip to Verona's open air amphitheatre.
Lake Iseo
The whole lakeside is dotted with villages and towns, the main ones being Iseo, Sarnico, Lovere, Pisogne and Marone which are full of historical and cultural interest; it is pleasant to stroll along their promenades or relax with a cappuccino. There are a variety of water sports available and fishing is popular with the locals, and there is a good selection of walking and cycling trails. To the south of Lake Iseo is the Franciacorta Valley which produces some of the most famous sparkling wine in Italy, and it is here, in the heart of the vineyards that our featured hotel, L'Albereta, in Erbusco, is situated.
A few kilometres from the lake, to the east, is the Natural Reserve of the Pyramids of Zone, an unique formation of pillars created by uneven glacial erosion, and to the north in Val Camino there are prehistoric rock carvings at the National Park of Rock Engravings.
Lake Como Map
Climate
The Italian lakes enjoy mild winters and warm, sunny summers.
Did you know?
Bellagio, on Lake Como, has been called the most beautiful town in Italy. Its promenade planted with oleanders and lime trees, fin-de-siècle hotels painted various shades of butterscotch, peach and cream, cobbled alleyways and spectacular mid-lake location which make Bellagio the quintessential Italian Lakes destination.