The Italian lakes: breath-taking landscapes

Foro Romano public domain , Joyborg
Italy and its lakes: a great location for couples and families, and unforgettable destinations to keep in mind and explore on vacation. Going to visit an Italian lago it is extremely easy. You need only to choose a region and you will find a lake!!!

Our trip starts with Lake Como, Italy’s most popular “lago” and a top destination also for internazional VIPs. A lovely temperate weather, waits for you at Lake Como any time of year. The lake is embraced by a number of fantastic villas and resort villages as well as hiking paths. What to do once you get there? A romantic boat trip, some water activities, and bird-watching.

Lake Garda is the largest among Italian lakes. The surroundings are amazing: medieval castles and breath-taking promenades on the shoreline. The different landscapes invite to diverse activities: the beaches are located along the southern shores and rocky cliffs. Its clear water are beautiful. The rest for swimming, sailing, and wind-surfing. Near the lake you can visit Gardaland and other amusement and recreational parks: take your kids there. Lake Garda is in northeastern Italy between Venice and Milan.

Lake Bolsena is Italy’s fifth largest lake. Located in the Northern Lazio region between Rome and Tuscany, it is in the crater of an ancient volcano. Bolsena is beautiful also to visit and sleep over: it has a medieval centre with a mastodontic fortress at the top.

Lake Maggiore is another pretty large and popular lake located in northern Italy (namely, north of Milan and west of Lake Como). It is interesting to notice the northern part of Lake Maggiore also belongs to Switzerland. The lake was created by a glacier and it is surrounded by hills in the south. The quiet mountains are in the north, with mild climate all year. Three fab islands are in the centre of the lake and you can visit renting a boat.

Lake Massaciuccoli is an amazing location with a wildlife reserve close to the sea. The small town of Torre del Lago Puccini are pretty close and revolving around tourism from April to September. Go off and visit the villa-museum on the lake: Puccini lived and wrote there a lot of his famous operas. A fantastic and important summer opera festival is in the outdoor theatre in a splendid location: it overlooks the lake.

Lake Trasimeno is in central Italy in the Umbria region near Tuscany, and here you can feel at the centre point of Italy. Trasimeno is Italian largest but non-Alpine lake. It is shallow and this particular lake is pretty famous all over the world and in the history books. Why? The reason has to look up into the books: Trasimeno was the site of the battle between Hannibal and Rome warriors. Historical towns around the lake and the large island, Isola Maggiore, famous for its lace-making is good  visit. One of the most interesting towns around is Castiglione del Lago. It is a medieval centre and a defensive castle close by the lake. Lovely beaches are all around the lake full of tourist from every country and walk of life.

We close the long description the small and cute Lake of Orta: you will find it west of Lake Maggiore in the northern Italian lakes district. In the recent past Lake Orta was a popular location beloved from poets and artists. From the village of Orta San Giulio, really pretty, you can go and enjoy by boat the trip to the one island in the lake. Another lovely and wild escursion will be climbing Sacro Monte (the sacred mountain), where there is a sanctuary which was built in 1591 and lots of small chapels all dedicated to Saint Francis.

Romantic hotspots in Northen and Central Italy: Italians do it better (1st part)

Italy:  one of the most romantic countries on the planet, shows some high-rate romantic spots and destinations. Italy’s seaside towns, delicious and small villages, beautiful and historic cities are proper romantic pilgrimage for a trip to Italy.
Verona is the start point of our top ten with the sad and enchanting Shakespearean story of Romeo and Juliet. The famous balcony is almost one of the most visited place in Italy!

Visit Juliet’s house, and go rubbing the right breast of Juliet‘s statue for luck! Do not forget to  take a picture of the balcony kissing your lover or your mate! What other romantic things we can do in Verona? Going to see an opera in Arena di Verona, going on a carriage ride, “flauneuring” along the river hand in hand. A deep breath and we go to…Venice! One of the most beautiful town in the world Venice is well-know for its romantic canals at nights and pretty narrow streets. With your beloved, look for one of the many small squares and churches and …kiss each other!

Still in the North of Italy? Go and visit Lake Como, embraced by its beautiful villas and its well-know resort villages. Bellagio is the pearl of the lake, and one of the most romantic villages in Italian Peninsula. Near Switzerland, you can also take the funicular from Como town to the village of Brunate and enjoy a spectacular sight of the lake and Alps.

Going in the central regions of Italy, you will find an incredible variety of romantic spots on the coast close to  the famous Cinque Terre, in Liguria, try also the Gulf of Poets (Golfo dei Poeti), part of the itinerary in 18th century among the British romantic poets. Down in Umbria, we find a lovely place called…Perugia, famous medieval hill town in central Italy and recently became a chocolate amateur paradise (see Eurochocolate festival article).