Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda
emit their unique sparkle onto the magnificent surrounding
landscape, and attract diverse tourists to their banks: younger
travellers enjoy the sailing and nightlife experience of Lake
Garda; Maggiore provides a tranquil and relaxed respite from the
city, enjoyed from the comforts of luxury hotels; while
sophisticates from Milan are drawn to the magnetism of Lake
Como.
Known locally as Lago Di Como, Lake Como is
framed by craggy backdrops and magnificent villas festooned with
bougainvillea perched on its banks. Three long lakes converge to
form Lake Como, joining in the Centro Lago area with the four towns
of Bellagio, Tremezzo, Menaggio and Varenna. These are visited via
the boats and buses connecting the towns. Cultural areas of
interest include Como's duomo, the former communal palace, the
Broletto and the Church of San Fedele. Scenic vistas can be
explored from a funicular to Brunate, while hiking trails lead off
from here with overnight accommodation en route in the form of
modest guesthouses. Across the lake is the Tempio Voltiano, a
memorial museum devoted to Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the
battery. There is an outdoor market in Como every Tuesday and
Thursday morning and the whole day on Sunday.
Lake Garda is the most popular of Italy's
northern lakes and has a temperate climate to complement its
magnificent setting. The lake towns of Riva, Gardone Riviera and
Sirmione can be reached via buses, hydrofoils and ferries from
Desenzano. The town of Sirmione boasts the relics of Roman
civilisation and a magnificent medieval castle. The Sirmione Spa
offers invigorating therapy through its sulphurous waters, while
Gardone Riviera was once the playground of the rich and famous and
is now the recreational haunt for many tourists. The hills beyond
Gardone are perfect for walking and enjoying the scents of nature
bursting from the lemon groves. The alpine cliffs are a great spot
from which to hike and mountain bike, with the picturesque pebble
beaches below providing a slower, languid and more tranquil holiday
experience.
Finally, Lake Maggiore is the preferred
holiday destination of the elite. The resort town of Stresa is a
haven for Italians, French and Germans who flock to its cobbled
streets to enjoy the spectacular mountain and lake views. Just a
heartbeat away from Lake Maggiore lie the splendid Borromean Isles.
Daily excursion tickets enable adventurous travellers to hop
between the islands at their leisure. Of these isles, the Isola
Bella is the most visited. Its claim to fame is the magnificent
Baroque palace, the Palazzo e Giardini Borromeo, replete with
priceless masterpieces, tapestries, furniture and paintings. The
terraced gardens reach their dramatic apex with the unicorn, the
Borromeo family emblem. On Isola Madre is the Borromeo bambini doll
collection, as well as a number of portraits of the family. A
magnificent botanical garden flows from the house with plentiful
exotic trees, plants and flowers.
