Why we’re obsessed with Italy’s Lakes Region
The Italian Lakes are a group of six glacial lakes scenically situated at the edge of the Alps. Most are in the province of Lombardy and near the Swiss border, stretching their long fingers from north to south. There are so many magnificent lakes to see and things to do. We’re going to outline why we’re obsessed with Italy’s Lakes region.
First… Here is a snapshot of the main lakes moving from west to east:
Lake Orta
The westernmost lake is the small Lake Orta in Italy’s Piedmont region. Here you’ll find the beautiful medieval village of Orta San Giulio.
View to the Isola San Giulio or San Giulio Island (Italian: Isola di San Giulio) in the evening.
Lake Maggiore
A short distance away is Lake Maggiore, Italy’s second-largest lake. Maggiore’s shores touch both the Lombardy and Piedmont regions of Italy. It stretches 40 miles north into the Ticino canton of Switzerland. Stresa is the best-known Italian city on the lake and sits opposite the famed Borromean Islands with their lush gardens and the splendid palace of Isola Bella.
Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore
Lake Lugano
Lake Lugano is shared by both Italy and Switzerland. Named after Lugano, the main Swiss city on its banks, Lake Lugano’s northern and southern ends lie in Lombardy.
On the edge of Lake Lugano from Switzerland
Lake Como
Elegant Lake Como is perhaps the most famous of all the lakes, with grand hotels and villas of the rich and famous lining its shores. The lake is shaped like an upside down “Y” and is completely enclosed within Lombardy. In addition to its main city of Como, the lake is also home to the beautiful village of Bellagio.
Town of Bellagio on Lake Como
Lake Iseo
Further east in Lombardy, there is the quiet Lake Iseo, which has Europe’s largest lake island.
Italy, Lake Iseo
Lake Garda
Lake Garda is Italy’s largest and the most eastern of the lakes. It touches three Italian regions: Lombardy, Trentino Alto-Adige and Trentino, and sits about halfway between Milan and Venice. Its lovely scenery ranges from vineyard covered hills to rocky cliffs. Its beautiful landscapes and spectacular villas have featured in motion pictures such as those in the James Bond and Star Wars series.
Stunning backdrop of Lake Garda
Why are the Lakes so popular?
The Lakes’ beautiful natural settings, backed by the Alps and ringed by forests are truly incredible. Idyllic villages, with gardens and villas punctuating the shoreline, makes the Lakes area one of Italy’s most scenic regions. The area also offers the Franciacorta wine region plus fine dining in its cities and towns. Add to this the Lakes’ proximity to major cities like Milan, and even Venice in the case of Lake Garda, and you can see why this easy access to such a stunning natural beauty makes us obsessed!
Lake Como’s reputation as a celebrity playground have made the area even more attractive as a vacation destination. Villa owners include George Clooney and Richard Branson, just to name a couple.
Richard Branson’s villa on Lake Como, Image from Flickr
In fact, the Italian Lakes have been a holiday destination of choice since Roman times. Julius Caesar sent 5,000 Romans to settle the Lake Como area and protect the trade routes heading north to present-day Switzerland. They also discovered the hot springs at Sirmione. Today there is a well-known resort on Lake Garda’s southern end where people still go to enjoy the waters.
Italy, Lake Garda, Sirmione
The famed Grand Tour that well-heeled Europeans embarked upon beginning in the 1700s included the Lakes area on many of the journeys. This began the trend towards tourism for the region.
Romantic age poets from the 1800s such as Byron and Shelley found the lake and mountain vistas irresistible and publicised the region’s beauty. Mark Twain wrote about his time on Lake Como in his 1869 travel book, “The Innocents Abroad”, bringing the area to the attention of American travellers.
Then in 1906 the Simplon Tunnel opened. It connected Switzerland with Italy through the Alps, paving the way for international travel to the region. Trains from London and Paris headed to Milan stopped at Stresa, and more visitors were able to discover the beauties of Lake Maggiore.
Tour the Area’s Lakes in Style and Comfort
Discover the sweeping variety of the Lakes Region on our Italian Lakes and Swiss Mountains nine-day tour. This scenic journey delivers the best of Italy and Switzerland’s gorgeous lakes, atmospheric lakeside villages and stunning mountains. The tour covers six lakes, from Italy’s Lake Como, Lake Orta and Lake Iseo, to Switzerland’s Lake St Moritz and Lake Lugano, and beautiful Lake Maggiore whose lakeshores touch both Italy and Switzerland. Also included is the fantastic journey on the Bernina Express with a visit to St. Moritz.
Italy, Bernina Express
You can also create your own ideal Lakes vacation starting with our five-day Lake Como itinerary. Tailor the trip to what best suits you, using the itinerary as a building block to start planning.
Discover Italy’s most famous lake destination, Lake Como, with its beautiful villages and villas, as well as the charms of the smaller Lake Iseo and Lake Maggiore with its beautiful palace and gardens of Isola Bella, plus tour the Franciacorta wine region.
Lake Como, Italy
For centuries travellers have been smitten by the region’s combination of sparkling blue Lakes with their Alpine backdrops, and the Mediterranean gardens of palms and lemon trees. The villages exude picturesque charm with fishing boats in the harbour, villas clinging to cliffs, and scenic islands, some with palaces and gardens of their own. The romantic settings, spectacular natural scenery and the mild climate remain a powerful lure for today’s visitors.
Discover more and learn how to build your own itinerary with our Lake Como Region Guide – FREE DOWNLOAD.
