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The Italian Lake District stretches across Northern Italy. The southern ends of most of the lakes are relatively flat (a continuation of the River Po Plain), but the northern ends are mountainous as the lakes reach deep into the Alps. Popular with Northern Europeans and Italians alike for over 100 years, the Italian Lakes combine good weather with attractive scenery. The climate is mild in both summer and winter, producing Mediterranean vegetation, with beautiful gardens growing rare and exotic plants. Well-known gardens include those of the Isola Madre, Isola Bella and the Isole di Brissago, that of the Villa Taranto in Pallanza near Verbania, and the Alpinia botanical garden above Stresa. Lake Maggiore is the longest lake of the Italian Lakes measuring 65 km. long and has a surface area of 215 sq. km. It is about 25 km. in width on average, although twice as wide near Luino.The Borromean Bay between Stresa and Verbania, is blessed with three islands known as the Borromean Islands. These islands are not to be missed on a visit to Lake Maggiore. Isola Bella is known for its baroque palace and gardens, Isola Pescatori for it's fishing character with it's typical lake boats and the scenic Isola Madre is known for its gardens. The lake’s jagged banks are surrounded by the Prealps of Piedmont and Lombardy. The western bank is in Piedmont (provinces of Novara and Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola) and the eastern in Lombardy (province of Varese), whereas the most northerly section extends thirteen kilometres into Switzerland, where it constitutes the lowest point above sea-level in that entire country.

[edit] Regions

• Lake Maggiore
• Lake Como
• Lake Garda
• Lake Lugano
• Lake Iseo
• Lake Orta
• Lake Varese
• Lake of Monate
• Lombardy

[edit] Cities

The main points of access to the regions are: Milan, Bergamo, Brescia and Verona.

[edit] Other destinations

• Switzerland Piedmont Lombardy
• Ranzo
• Gerra
• San Nazzaro
• Vira
• Magadino
• Tenero
• Locarno

  Large Swiss town on the northern part of Lake Maggiore, with casino and ferry to other towns on the lake.

• Ascona
• Ronco sopra Ascona
• Brissago
• Minusio
• Cannobio

  Small Italian town 10 minutes from the Swiss border on the West side of the Lake Maggiore, with a large campsite, a sport complex, a lakeside walkpath, a Sunday market, a renaissance church, and a few hotels. Bike rental possible at a hotel in front of the port. Ferry to other towns on the lake.

• Valle Cannobina

  Valley of the Cannobine river, above Cannobio, with a gorge around Sant'Anna, a walking/biking path between Traffiume and Cannobio

• Cannero Riviera

  Nice town, with abandonned Island (Castle of Cannero) on West side of Lake Maggiore. Ferry to other towns on the lake.

• Oggebbio
• Ghiffa
• Verbania

  Large town on the West side of Lake Maggiore. Ferry to other towns on lake. Near Pallanza. Train station to Milan. Car ferry to cross the lake.

• Baveno
• Stresa
• Belgirate
• Lesa
• Meina
• Arona
• Dormelletto
• Castelletto sopra Ticino
• Sesto Calende
• Angera
• Ranco
• Ispra
• Brebbia
• Besozzo
• Monvalle
• Leggiuno
• Laveno-Mombello
• Castelveccana
• Porto Valtravaglia
• Brezzo di Bedero
• Germignaga
• Luino
• Maccagno
• Tronzano Lago Maggiore
• Pino sulla Sponda del Lago Maggiore
• Parco nazionale Val Grande

[edit] Understand

[edit] Talk

[edit] Get in

Ferry service is available out to the islands from Stresa, Lake Maggiore's resort town, every day during the summer. After picking passengers up at the dock, the ferries first make stops at Isolas Bella and Pescatori, the two closest islands. Here visitors are free to roam for 1-2 hours depending on the boat's schedule. After visiting these two islands, passengers are then taken to the third island, Isola Madre, which is located more towards the center of the Lake. Visitors are given a couple of additional hours to see this island.

[edit] By car

From the North, you'll go through Switzerland, on the A2 to Locarno, then take the A13 towards the West side of Lake Maggiore or stay on A2 to Lugano and Como.

From the South:

For Lake Maggiore and Lake Varese, from Milan, take the A8 Autostrada dei Laghi. Stay on A8 for Varese, go on A26 direction Gravellona for Lake Maggiore.

For Lake Como and Lake Lugano, from Milan, take the A8 Autostrada dei Laghi, then the A9 towards Como, or go on the SS36 near Monza for Lecco.

[edit] By plane

Fly to Milan, it has three airports. Milan Malpensa, South of Lake Maggiore and Lake Varese. Milan Linate, next to the center of Milan. Milan Bergamo, in Bergamo.

[edit] By train

For Lake Maggiore, from the South, get into Milan and then to Verbania. From the North, go to Bellinzona in Switzerland. Buses are available from those destinations.

[edit] Get around

The most interesting way to get around each of the lakes is by boat or hydrofoil.[1] Varenna, Bellagio, Cadenabio, and Menaggio are the only towns car ferries travel to. [2]

[edit][add listing] See

• Borromeo Palace, Botanic Garden, Stresa, ☎ Tel. 0323/30556. A Beautiful Uproar of Gardens spurced throughtout the Island Of Isola del Borromeo.  edit
• Rosmini Museum, Villa Ducale, ☎ 0323/30091.  edit
• Tastevin Piazza Cadorna, Stresa, ☎ 0323-31467. Wine Shop  edit
• La Cambusa Via Cavour, ☎ 0323-31938, [3]. Wine Shop  edit
• Alchimissa food spirits and wine, Via Mazzini, 10 (Stresa), ☎ 0323 31109, [4]. Wine shop  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

• Alchimissa Food spirits and wine (wine shop), Via Mazini, 10 (Stresa), ☎ 0323 31109, [5]. Wine shop  edit

[edit] Winter

Skiing - Lake Maggiore is known for it's wonderful skiing facility on the Swiss Alps, People come from all over the world to ski here. In 2006, the Torino Winter Olympics were held here.

[edit] Summer

Many Types of activities offered on the water's of Lake Maggiore are

• Swimming - Swim on Lake Maggiore with the beautiful sencery surrounding you as you paddle. Enjoy the lucious mountains and beutiful
• Sailing
• Windsurfing
• Water Skiing

Activities Offered out of water in The Italian Lake Districts are:

• Handgliding
• Mountain biking
• Hiking
• Para Sailing
• Horseback Riding
• Cycling

[edit] Festivals

Locarno International Film Festival - The festival showcases the newest films from Europe's best directors and attracts star-studded audiences from as far away as Hollywood and New York. In addition to full-length films, the festival also shows short films and documentaries. San Vito Feast Day in August The Spirit of Woodstock Festival is an annual open air festival at the end of July/beginning of August at Mirapuri.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Hotel Ristorante Fiorentino, Bolongaro 9-11, ☎ 0323-30-254, [6]. Mar-Oct daily 11am-3pm and 6-10pm. Italian Cuisine; Primi 6€-8€ ($7.80-$10); secondi 7€-13€ ($9.10-$17).  edit
• Taverna del Pappagallo, Principessa Margherita 46, ☎ 0323-30-411, [7]. Italian Cuisine/ Pizzeria Primi and pizza 4€-11€ ($5.20-$14); secondi 8€-12€ ($10-$16).  edit
• Verbano, Isola Superiore dei Pescatori, Around Town, ☎ 0323-32-534, [8]. Daily noon-2:30pm and 7-10pm. italian Cuisine Primi 5€-10€ ($6.50-$13); secondi 10€-21€ ($13-$27).  edit
• Osteria degli Amici, A. M. Bolongaro 33, ☎ 0323-30-453, [9]. Thurs-Tues noon-2:30pm and 7pm-midnight. Italian Cuisine/ Pizzeria Primi 5€-8€ ($6.50-$10); secondi 8.50€-14€ ($11-$18); pizza 4€-10€ ($5.20-$13).  edit
• Il Castello, Laveno-Mombello (Via Zara, Laveno-Mombello 21014, Italy), [10]. Italian Cuisine $22-37.  edit
• Cantinho Brasileiro, Ispra (Via Milite Ignoto 17/a, Ispra 21027, Italy), [11]. Brazillian Cuisine $47-79.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit] stay safe

[edit] Get out

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