Exceptional lakes Essential - Orta, Maggiore, and Como, romance and elegance

Lake Orta, the westernmost of the Piedmontese pre-Alpine lakes, is a small body of water of rare grace, secluded and romantic, nestled among wooded hills. Its jewel is Orta San Giulio, a medieval village of cobbled lanes, frescoed palaces and little squares facing the lake. Opposite rises the Island of San Giulio, with its basilica and cloistered monastery, reachable by boat in a few minutes. Above the village, the Sacro Monte of Orta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, weaves chapels and woods into a panoramic devotional path. The stillness of the waters and the intimate atmosphere make the lake a perfect destination for those seeking peace. Delicate and poetic, Lake Orta enchants with its intimate, suspended beauty.

Lake Maggiore stretches between Piedmont, Lombardy and Switzerland, framed by pre-Alps and lush gardens that make it a classic and elegant holiday destination. Its jewels are the Borromean Islands off Stresa: Isola Bella with its sumptuous baroque palace and Italian gardens, Isola Madre with its botanical park, and Isola dei Pescatori with its fishing village. Along the shores, Stresa, Verbania and Cannobio offer flowered promenades, historic villas and cable cars to panoramic peaks such as Mottarone. The gardens of Villa Taranto guard thousands of botanical species, while boats connect the banks with scenic routes. The cuisine offers lake fish and Piedmontese specialities. Serene and refined, Lake Maggiore enchants with its gardens and tranquil waters.

Lake Como traces its unmistakable inverted-Y shape between steep mountains and aristocratic villas, one of the most scenic of the Lombard pre-Alpine lakes. Its shores are dotted with elegant villages such as Bellagio, known as the pearl of the lake, Varenna with its lanes over the water, and Menaggio facing the western bank. Historic villas and lush gardens — Villa Carlotta, Villa del Balbianello, Villa Melzi — testify to centuries of aristocratic leisure. The town of Como, with its cathedral and lakefront, is an ideal starting point for boat excursions between villages. The surrounding mountains offer panoramic trails and cable cars, while restaurants serve lake fish and Lombard specialities. Romantic and refined, Lake Como enchants with its blend of grand nature and timeless elegance.