Take a peak at Italy’s lakes
Summer in the mountains is magic, says NICK DALTON
THE pretty town of Bellagio sits on a promontory half way down the two legs of wishbone-shaped Lake Como. From here you get breathtaking views over the length of the main body of the lake. There are small beaches, boats, waterfront promenades and ornate churches popping up amid the sea of grand, red-roofed buildings.
This is what a holiday in the Italian lakes is all about: the summer sun is as warm as you’d find by the coast with a backdrop of mountains.
A holiday in the Italian lakes can be a beach holiday – sitting on the shore, eating ice cream, lazing by the pool and lapping up the sun. Yet it can also be an active getaway with lakeside walks, days out in the mountains and boat excursions to distant towns and villages.
On Lake Como you can also stay at the town of Tremezzo, a mile away across the glinting water from Bellagio, or Menaggio, just along the lake, all three with fabulous hotels and served by little ferries. The town of Como itself isn’t far away – and you can nip over the border into Switzerland.
Yet there are plenty of other lakes too. Lake Maggiore is dotted with rainbow-coloured fishing villages.
To stay, choose between lively, cosmopolitan Stresa or the quieter Baveno, although both are places of little cobbled streets, promenades, small pizzerias and charming bars.
Lake Garda is the biggest and most popular lake, a shoreline stretching 90 miles and with 15 waterfront towns. Stay in bustling Garda or other, quieter spots – and take a trip to Milan or Venice.
For a slower pace of life try Lake Levico, where the 19th-century spa town of Levico Terme is a delight with its huge park, while there are gentle walking and cycling paths around the water’s edge.
Yet there’s another Italy, too, amid the peaks of the Dolomites that at dawn and dusk are painted pink and purple by the sun.
This is a place for walking in flower-filled meadows or the Alte Vie high altitude paths (all with the
Lush
aid of interconnected mountain lifts), the lush slopes in contrast to the crags of the Sella Massif.
Stay in the resort of Madonna di Campiglio or the valley settings of Selva Val Gardena or Val Di Fassa, places with sheer Italian style.
Holidays in the Italian lakes and mountains are a fabulously different way to enjoy summer. TUI, the expert in the region, offers some of the most charming hotels and a local expert to steer you to the best restaurants, friendliest bars and top sights. Once you’ve experienced the mountains you’ll never look back…