Lago di Bolsena

Within a crater of the extinct Vulcini volcano, Lake Bolsena is just south from Tuscany in the region of Northern Lazio. The main nearby village is the old town of Bolsena on the lake’s northern banks. The town is now a resort village with the old town and castle well preserved. The historic island of Bisentina lies within the lake, and it has an old church as well as a historic prison for heretical priests and a convent. Then, a small fishing town on the lake has a castle. People currently enjoy fishing, boating and swimming at Lake Bolsena.

Lago di Bolsena, Italy by Hengist Decius

Lago di Como

Italy’s most popular lake for getaways, Lake Como is a “Y” shaped body of water of the Lake District in the Alps’ foothills. Visitors are captivated by stunning views of blue waters, charming lakeside villages with comfortable accommodations and tall mountains on the northern side of the lake near the country’s border with Switzerland. Visitors should take a boat cruise and stop at some of the smaller villages for cool treats at gellaterias. Other area activities are photography, hiking and a variety of water sports.

Photo of Menaggio, Lago di Como, Italy by Gerry Labrijn

Lago di Garda

The most visited and the largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda is in the country’s northern Lake District. The lovely village of Limone with its many fragrant lemon trees is on the northern side of the lake where rugged cliffs dominate the landscape. Waterfront walkways, beaches and castles from the Middle Ages are around Lake Garda. Families enjoy water sports and nearby parks like the amusement park, Gardaland.

Photo of Toscolano, Lago di Garda, Italy by Studio eLBee

Lago di Maggiore

To the west from Lake Como, Lake Maggiore is Italy’s longest lake at 65 kilometers. The far north of the lake crosses the border into Switzerland. The area has a fair to mild climate even though it is mostly surrounded by the foothills of the Alps. Visitors enjoy exploring the lake’s three islands. The widest point of this body of water is near the town of Luino.

Photo of Lago di Maggiore, Italy by Oliver Keller

Lago di Trasimeno

Close to Tuscany in Umbria, Lake Trasimeno is known as the site for a battle between Hannibal and Rome. The lake is fairly shallow and has some beaches along its shoreline. A large island is within Trasimeno Lake, famous for the lace that the people on the island produce. Historic towns dot the landscape around this body of water, and many of them have fascinating castle ruins. If you would like to visit any of these lakes you can compare lake Como holidays from inghams.co.uk and I hope to see you at the waters edge for a much deserved cocktail.

Photo of Lago di Trasimeno, Italy by Roberto Taddeo

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Photo by Elliott Brown

Camping at Lake Garda

One of the best ways to experience the beauty of Lake Garda is to camp on the lake. There are numerous campsites such as those offered by Eurocamp and Keycamp, which are situated right on the edge of the lake. You can simply step out of your tent and head to the beach for a swim whilst camping at Lake Garda. Here are a few of some the best campsites near Lake Garda.

On the Lake: Fontanelle is a peaceful campsite that is set on the shores of the lake and is also close to some of the area’s main attractions. The facility is well-maintained and offers a swimming pool; fishing and a children’s play area.

Family-Friendly: While not situated directly on the lake, Altomincio Family Park is still close enough for travellers to easily visit the lake. This park is a popular choice amongst families with swimming pools, waterslides, boat trips, twelve playgrounds and a cinema.

Luxury Camping: SelectCamp Camping Weekend is a lovely campsite for both children and adults. The site offers something extra for those who like to camp in comfort. The luxurious lodge tents are spacious, and fully equipped with showers and toilets. On-site amenities include a laundry, swimming pool, children’s pool, Internet café, two playgrounds, satellite TV and a pizzeria.

Gardaland – Italy’s number one amusement park / Spencer Wright

Things to Do at Lake Garda

The large lake offers plenty of activities for those who are adventurous. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you can spend your time at Lake Garda exploring the beaches, windsurfing, hiking, canoeing and horseback riding. If you want a more peaceful holiday, you can spend time taking in the scenery as you stroll along the beach, or you can explore the vineyards and nearby villages.

Nearby Attractions

Some of Italy’s best attractions are located near Lake Garda. Both adults and children will enjoy visiting Gardaland, which is Italy’s number one amusement park. There are plenty of rides and various shows offered throughout the year that are perfect for entertaining children of all ages. Aqua Paradise Park is another popular attraction with families. This water park offers an exciting day in a tropical setting, with waterslides, an erupting volcano and an entire fishing village. While there are plenty of lively attractions close to Lake Garda, there are also quaint villages for exploration and cosy restaurant for dining. Don’t forget to stop at one of the local restaurants for a slice of pizza, cappuccino or ice cream sundae.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Silvia

As one of the few Italian regions, Piemonte is not washed by the sea, but it is mostly mountainous area. Due to this fact was created also the name of the region, which comes from the phrase “ai piedi dei monti” – at the foot of the mountains. The territory was inhabited already in the Neolithic, but we can see the relics of the Romans and later of the Longobardi and not least the French and the Habsburgs, who were fighting a long for the region.

Mountains and lakes

Piemonte is suitable especially for those loving hiking, because the region boasts the two most famous Italian mountains – the Alps and Apennines. There are many valleys, which are accessible not only in summer but also in winter, so enjoying hiking here is possible all year-round. When you walk down from the mountains, you can stop at the region’s largest lake, Lago Maggiore, which extends also to the region of Lombardy, and even to the Italian canton of Ticino in Switzerland. Like many others in this area it is one of the glacial lakes and is known to influence many artists such as Ernest Hemingway.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Falk Lademann

Cities

Mountains and lakes are not the only place that tourists usually visit in Piemonte. The region is also famous for its modern, industrial cities such as Torino, where are the headquarters of the largest Italian automaker Fiat or Ivrea, and where is based famous office equipment manufacturer Olivetti. But those places are also imbued with history and beautiful architecture. Very visited, especially in the summer, is for example Aglio castle.

Specialties of Piemonte, chocolate and Barolo

Lovers of chocolate also come into their own here, as the region’s production of sweet snacks is famous not only throughout Italy, but also in Europe. The secret of making chocolate brought to Piemonte Emanuele Filiberto from Savoy in the 16th century. In cities, you find plenty of shops where you can buy a variety of chocolate candies, nougat, chocolate chestnut, etc. You will find that the Piedmont chocolate may well equal to the Swiss or Belgian.

However, if you prefer salty foods, you should taste il brasato al Barolo – beef with celery, onion and carrots cooked in one of the best wines of Piemonte region – Barolo.

View Piemonte – mountains, glacial lakes, history, wine and sweets Italy in a larger map

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Lago di Garda, Italy by Elliott Brown

Beauty hurts, or is more expensive than the sea
Lago di Garda enjoys a large tourist popularity. This corresponds to a number of first-class hotels and guesthouses. With the mark of prestige, prices are higher here than in other Italian resorts (apartments for around €20, campings for €10).

Even lake queen would not have to be ashamed of the lake – 346 meters depth is really impressive. Glacier Lake Garda was founded thanks to the global warming about 10 thousand years ago. Receding Alpine glaciers created this beautiful water world. The upper part of the lake is narrower, surrounded by great rock massifs. Towards the south, the lake opens up and allows visitors easier access. The lake lies at an altitude of 65 meters. Its maximum depth is 346 meters and if you would like to walk it all around, you have to prepare to about 160 kilometre-long way.

The right place for more demanding tourists and adventure lovers is the northern part of Lake Garda. Biking, hiking, rock climbing is just a fraction of what the area offers. Lake Garda is ideal for active holidays. You find here hundreds of kilometres of marked cycling and hiking trails that lead deep into the mountains, on the water you can enjoy boating, scooters or just play a beach volleyball.

Lago di Garda Italy by Robert Wirrmann

If you decide to go on a proper mountain hike, do not forget the map. It can be obtained in tourist centers or hotels. Losing here is really not hard at all. The ideal starting point for tours is the town of Riva del Garda, where you can go either west or east. The western side offers steep rock walls, suitable more for hiking. The eastern hills are a paradise for passionate cyclists. (You can rent bikes and all the amenities from some of many rental services here, but prices are often quite high).

In addition to alpine tours and resting at blue lake you can also go for culture or rich night life, which is characteristic for Italy and its inhabitants. Visit a town of Riva del Garda. This place is ideal for lovers of history.

Lake Garda, Italy by Marjolein Knuit

In the southern part of the lake, you can visit a spa town Sirmione, known as the “Pearl of Lake Garda.” The Romans built here two castles, ports, and a whopping villa of Grotte di Catullo. On the ruins of one of the ports you can now visit the castle Scaligeri Rocca, which is one of the landmarks of Sirmione.

Glacier Lake Garda is truly one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy. It is suitable for everybody – hikers, adventurers, historians…

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Antonis Lamnatos

Lake Como is the most diverse and most attractive lake of all the Italian lakes. It is surrounded by alpine peaks, forested hills and lush vegetation. The mild climate makes ideal conditions for flowering gardens on its banks and many places around the lake are also used as a climatic spa. Lago di Como lies at an altitude of 197 m and the length of its shore is 170 km. The lake is widely popular among tourists especially for the great possibilities for hiking and doing sports. Swimming here is in the summer basically comparable with the sea. Lake is also suitable for scuba diving and windsurfing.

In the vicinity of Lago di Como are lots of interesting places worth visiting. To visit them you can use the roads along the coast or local shipping and ferry transport. The most famous resort on the lake is a town Como.

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The historic center of town is full of the historical monuments and interesting shops. The dominant of the city center is the church Duomo, which was founded in the 14th century. Its construction lasted four centuries and today it features pretty facade. Next to the church you can see the Palazzo Govia, which houses a historical museum of Giuseppe Garibaldi. Another important monument in Como is the Town Hall Broletto dating from the 13th century. Among the rare secular monuments are the Lombard Romanesque churches of San Fedele and Sant ‘Abbondio. All these monuments can be found in the medieval fortifications that surround the city. Como has a wonderful Sant’Agostino port from which you can get to the only island in the lake – Comacina.

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Lago Maggiore, Italy by Falk Lademann

While Lake Maggiore is situated more than 193 meters above sea level, the lake is very deep with some points of the lake bed exceeding 179 meters below sea level. The basin of the lake is said to have been formed by a mix of both glacial and tectonic means. There are many rivers that flow into Lake Maggiore and even more rivers that flow out of the lake.

The weather surrounding the giant lake is traditionally very mild all year long. Since Lake Maggiore is so large, it creates a micro-climate that is entirely unique to the region. During the summer months, the temperature of the lake generally helps to keep the region cooler than the surrounding areas. At the same time, during the winter months, the lake helps to warm the surrounding areas.

Isola dei Pescatori, Lago Maggiore, Italy by kkmarais

Every year, millions of people make their way to the shores of Lake Maggiore. There are countless hot spots located all around the shorelines of the lake. You will even find the Borromean Islands in the western portion of the lake. The Borromean Islands are a very popular tourist attraction which features some of the finest gardens in the region. Countless people make their way to these privately owned islands every summer. From rest and relaxation to some of the most popular of water sports, there is so much to see and do around Lake Maggiore.

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Lake Orta is situated only 35 kilometers northwest of Novara. The city is a popular stop on the Turin-Milan rail line. However, the lake is only 6 kilometers south of the Toce which is the more popular stopping point for people making their way to Lake Orta.

Lake Orta, Italy by Blooming-Garden

In the middle of Lake Orta is where you will find the Island of San Giulio. The island of San Giulio is only 275 meter long and 140 meters wide. The first chapel built on the island was first erected back in the 5th century. Today, the picturesque buildings on San Giulio are part of a Benedictine Monastery. It was named after the 4th century Saint Claire of Novara.

It is believed that the glacial sheets which formed Lake Orta were also the same that were known to have led to the formation of Lake Maggiore. It is believed that as the glaciers retreated, the water created from their melting was only partially diverted to Orta. Regardless of their formation, both lakes are very popular destinations for Italians and tourists alike.

San Guilio island, Lake Orta, Italy by Alessandro Vecchi

The shores surround Lake Orta are covered with lush green fields and many olive groves. While there are several beaches to choose from, most people who make their way to the lake instead opt to head out into the lake for a relaxing day away from the distractions of the countless tourists that line the shorelines. There are many attractions in the area and some fine resorts and restaurants located along the shores of Lake Orta.

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