Magnificent Italian Lakes
Today, we invite you to Italy to explore the surreal beauty of its lakes. We fell in love with the extraordinary beauty of the Italian Lakes when we first started visiting villas there in 2003. Time flies and our passion for that region and its people has grown year after year. Lake side villa rentals have been one of our clients' favorite set up for your family gatherings, wedding celebration or other events. Just an hour north by train from the sophisticated fashion center of Milan, lies Italy’s Lake District blossoming from the foothills of the Italian Alps with Switzerland bordering its northern edge.
Villa Argegno, Lake Como
Lovely Villages and beautiful Lakes
In this natural wonderland, lovely villages lie sandwiched between steep hillsides and the blue glacial lakes of Como, Maggiore, Garda, Lugano, and many more. For a millennia, writers, philosophers, and rulers have flocked to this glacier-sculpted valley for inspiration, relaxation, and recreation. Today, Milanese fashionistas escape here for weekend getaways, and other mostly European guests come to relish a slow-paced respite without forfeiting the joys of Italian gracious living.
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San Siro near Menaggio - Lake Como
Proud to be Northern Italians
Italians are fiercely regional, thinking of themselves first as Tuscans, Milanese, Umbrians, etc., rather than Italians. Yet they're all bound together by a single language and supported by the great Catholic religion whose seat is Rome. But this northern part of Italy has always been separated from the Italian Peninsula and even now with the post World War II economic recovery the area has prospered so much that there are complaints that it's carrying the less prosperous south. Some even want to form their own independent republic, the League of the North. But it's very unlikely Italy will ever abandon the unity it has fought so hard for. And as a traveler you will find that all Italians share an interest in hospitality, are very proud of their country and region, and enthusiastic in their welcome!
Milan is the second largest city in Italy, situated exactly in the middle of the Great Plain of Lombardy and thus linking north to south. One and a half million people live inside the city and over four million inhabit the greater Milan area. As a hub of rail, air, and roads, it's an efficient and business-like metropolis with an excellent public transport network and good public services. Its cathedrals, palaces, museums, and renowned shopping arcade are phenomenal. It's considered the European capital of fashion.
Lake Garda
Como, Garda, Lugano, Maggiore and Orta are some of the most beautiful Lakes
The 4 best known lakes in this region are Como, Garda, Lugano and Maggiore, but there are many more. Some are hidden like jewels in dense forest and others support bustling towns. These shores have been favorites of writers, musicians and artists such as Goethe, Hesse, Klee, Toscanini, Hemingway, and Byron. The beauty is truly inspirational!
Just 30 minutes from Milan is the famous fiord-like Lake Como. Also called Lario, it has the most developed shoreline. Stunning restaurants, hotels, and marinas are tastefully designed to beckon travelers, and a scenic road follows the ancient Strada Regina lined with elegant villas and aristocratic gardens. Hillsides are home to vineyards, olives, and lemon groves.
As in all of Italy, the food is extraordinary. Traditional dishes include minestrone, costaletta (breaded veal cutlet), risotto with saffron, lake fish, casoeula (a rich dish of pork and cabbage), light olive oil, good wines, and an ice cream parfait of lemon, cream and eggs. You'll love it!
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Villa Vincenzo, Cernobbio - Lake Como
The Creator made Italy from designs
The Alps bear the brunt of harsh weather and make for a mild year-round climate allowing Mediterranean foliage and visitors alike to flourish. The imagery is stunning: sapphire lakes ringed with pastel-hued cottages and luxurious villas; meandering lakefront promenades; and lush terraced hillsides where olives, grapes, and lemons are cultivated and alpine flowers add their colors. The air is fresh and the majestic snow-capped Alps rise in the distance beyond the red clay village roofs. Mark Twain’s musing, “The Creator made Italy from designs by Michelangelo” could apply here… Many of the towns are car-free, and ferries, hydrofoils, and boats are available for sightseeing and transportation from village to village. We will briefly introduce the major lakes in this area and then share our favorite—the little known treasure, lovely Lake Orta.
Birdeye views from picturesque village
Enchanting paths and opulent villas offer magificent views
Beloved by celebrities and the wealthy, the villages on Lake Como have an aristocratic flavor with their Gothic and Renaissance architecture and a reputation for romance. In the village of Varenna, the “Lover’s Walkway” unspools along the lake in a promenade lined with flowering oleanders and fragrant lime trees. On Lake Como you’ll see those movie-set villas that are adorned with statuary on wisteria-draped balconies extending over the lake. Some of these opulent villas are open to the public—Villa Carlotta, Villa Cipressi, and Villa Balbianello—and have spectacularly designed gardens. Lake Como is also home to the legendary village of Bellagio, known as the “pearl of the lake”. Come here to see the pretty gardens at Villa Melzi with its lovely lakeside blue-domed gazebo. Lake Como’s shoreline is the most developed of the lakes and entices visitors with its wealth of restaurants, opulent hotels, shops, and marinas.
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Lake Maggiore picturesque village
"Isolas" deserve a visit
Picturesque Lake Maggiore sits in the lap of the Alps with mountains on three of its sides and shares its northern edge with Switzerland. Three islands punctuate its center—Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola Pescatori. Isola Bella and Isola Madre are known for their lavish villas and centuries-old gardens cultivated with care by generations of the Borromeo family. Today, you can tour the villa and gardens and attend concerts in this magical setting in a summertime concert series. Isola Pescatori is mostly residential and not really a visitor’s destination. Like Lake Como, lovely Lake Maggiore whispered its charms to the famous and hosted a smitten Ernest Hemingway, and a young Winston Churchill on his honeymoon.
This is the largest of the Italian lakes and popular with families for its shoreline beaches, Gardaland amusement park, and medieval castle. You can also enjoy more thrilling pursuits here such as windsurfing, canyon hiking, and tandem paragliding near Monte Baldo. There’s a gondola in the village of Malcesine that shuttles tourists up the 5,900 feet to the summit of Mt. Baldo for a stunning panorama of the lake, and an entry point to explore on foot, mountain bike, or horseback ride. If you’d rather exercise your palate instead of your muscles, you can tour and sample the wines and olive oil cultivated from the hillsides of this region instead.
Beautiful Villa Appiani, Lake Como
Lake Orta: Che Bello e Che Romantico!!
West of Lake Maggiore, a little over a mile at its widest point, lies the diminutive beauty, Lake Orta. It’s main village is Orta San Giulio, where Romanesque and Baroque architecture decorate the Piazza Motta and tacky tourist shops wouldn’t dare take root. Winding along the cobblestone streets are tall colorful buildings adorned with wrought iron balconies and flower boxes, and cafes, gelato, jewelry, and book shops share space in the nooks between them. Here, you’ll find a 500 year old wine cellar and a vibrant weekly farmer’s market that’s been bustling since the 13th century. You’ll also find yourself amidst mostly Italians as other tourists haven’t yet discovered this quiet paradise, except for Nietschze and Balzac who retreated here to fill their creative wells.
Villa Vaccagio, Lake Orta
Isola San Guilio takes you back in time
Perhaps one of the most visually striking sights on Lake Orta is its tiny island, Isola San Guilio, that rises out of the center like a sparkling jewel at night and a mysterious mirage in the morning’s mist. It’s a five minute boat ride to this charming pedestrian-only village where you can visit the 12th century Basilica di San Giulio with its lavish Romanesque frescoes, elaborate carvings, and gilded interiors while the bell tolls the hours. Here, you can walk the monastery grounds toward “the way of meditation” or “the way of silence” that are marked with flags along the path. The people are friendly and the vibe is laid back which makes it a great spot to escape the crowds on the larger lakes. If your visit takes you here in June, don’t miss the Cusio Festival of Ancient Music which is held for three days at the 18th century Villa Tallone. During this magical event, torches illuminate the villa, staff wear period costumes, and Gregorian chants and Baroque symphonies bring a bygone era to life.
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