The Lakes of Northern Italy

The Lakes in Northern Italy are the destination of local and international tourism. It's an oasis of a mild climate in the middle of the Pianura Padana. You are away from hot and humid summers and cold and foggy winters. Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, and Lake Como have been vacation destinations for the Milanese for centuries. The rich and the poor. It takes just a few euros to go from Milan to one of these lakes using the cheap regional trains. People used this means of transportation for decades before the mass use of the car. Today, with the traffic becoming unbearable, people discover regional trains again. The car's advantage is that it allows you to pass from one Lake to another. Without going back to Milan, it makes it possible as you would with the train. You have here a guide to a multi-day car trip to these lakes. It starts from Novara; then it goes to the Lake's region, beginning with the Orta Lake, small and less famous. It then goes to Stresa on Lake Maggiore, with its beautiful Borromean Islands and the internationally renowned localities: Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori, and Isola Madre. It continues driving on the west coast of the Lake, visiting Villa Taranto, with its outstanding gardens, and is a natural beauty in springtime, when the azaleas are blossoming. It is the best time of the year to visit the area. Continuing the west coast of the Lake, it passes through Cannero Riviera and Cannobio and enters Switzerland. Don't forget to bring your passport with you! Brissago is the next town, then Locarno, and Lugano and Lake. There are several one-day itineraries to visit the attractions in Canton Ticino. Most can be seen in one day from Lake Lugano. We re-enter Italy near Como on Lake Como, and we visit the city and its historical attractions. From Como. a tour takes us to visit Cernobbio, Isola Comacina, Villa del Balbianello and Villa Carlotta arriving in Menaggio. Taking the Ferry, we visit Bellagio, the Pearl of the Lake, and then Varenna, with its Villa Monastero, Castel Vezio. Then, continuing the east coast, we arrive at Lecco, from where we have a diversion to ascent the Grigna, the Dolomite-like Mountain dominating the Lake. We also encounter the people making the famous Taleggio cheese on the hill. A quick section brings us to Monza and its park and then to Milan, where the itinerary ends.