General information Silk from Como , wind instruments in Quarna Sotto , macaroons from Saronno and high class fashion in Milan . Historic villas are to be found on every lake from the Grotte di Catullo Roman villa at Sirmione on Lake Garda to Villa Melzi and Villa Olmo on Lake Como and the Palazzo Estense in Varese . Most of these villas also have extraordinarily beautiful gardens such as the Villa Carlotta on Lake Como , the Isola Bella in Lake Maggiore and Villa Taranto at Punta della Castagnola on Lake Maggiore . Monte Mottarone above Stresa on Lake Maggiore and Monte Baldo above Lake Garda can both be reached by cable car and afford spectacular views . At Gargnano on Lake Garda you can see the stone pavilions where lemons were traditionally cultivated . Within the region there are national parks such as the Stelvio National Park north of Orta and the Parco Nazionale della Val Grande above Verbania on Lake Maggiore .
Cultural highlights Much of the artistic and architectural cultural wealth is concentrated in the great cities such as Milan and Verona but also in the less well�known but culturally�rich centres of Bergamo , Brescia , Pavia , Mantova and Vicenza ( not directly on the Lakes but within reach for a day ’ s excursion ). Highlights include the frescoes by Masolino at Castiglione Olona , the Rocca ( castle ) at Angera , the Flemish tapestries on the Isola Bella Lake Maggiore , the marble cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore at Como and the works of
art in the Galleria dell ’ Accademia Tadini at Lovere on Lake Iseo . Milan has La Scala , the Museo Poldi Pezzoli , the Brera Gallery ( containing Raphael ’ s ‘ Marriage of the Virgin ’ and the Montefeltro altarpiece by Piero della Francesca ) and its Gothic cathedral . Verona has its annual opera festival from June until the end of August , the Romanesque church of San Zeno , the Renaissance Loggia del Consiglio and the Roman Arena .
Gastronomic highlights The cuisine of northern Italy tends to contain more meat and butter than further south and rice and polenta compete with pasta . Saffron is used extensively as in Risotto alla Milanese . Bresaola is cured raw beef served as an antipasta ( now often with rocket and parmesan ). Manzo al Barolo ( beef in Barolo wine ), Costolette alla Milanese ( veal cutlets in breadcrumbs ) and Ossobucco ( veal in wine and tomatoes ) are all popular dishes . Panettone cake and Zabaglione are two regional desserts . This region produces some of Italyís most famous cheeses such as Gorgonzola , Bel Paese , Fontina and Taleggio as well as some of Italy ’ s most exportable wines such as Soave , Bardolino and Valpolicella . Less well known but interesting wines are produced in the Valtellina in the north of Lombardy and in Franciacorta near Lake Iseo .
A day out in the Italian Lakes
An interesting itinerary for a day ’ s excursion if you ’ re based at the Villa del Sogno on Lake Garda
North first to Gargnano and the lemon groves with their famous glass and stone cultivation houses passing the 18th Century Villa Bettoni in Bogliaco . Then perhaps a detour before reaching the resort of Toscolano to take the road to Gaino or to Monte Maderno . If you go into the resort of Toscolano�Maderno , visit the church of Sant ’ Andrea on the waterfront in Maderno . Continue south back towards Gardone Riviera where you might want to visit the Vittoriale degli Italiani , residence of the poet d ’ Annunzio . Nearby are privately owned Botanical Gardens . Continue to Salo and take one of the boats to Sirmione in time for lunch . Whilst in Sirmione it ’ s worth visiting the Grotte di Catullo , Roman villa , and the Rocca Scaligera , the picturesque 13th Century fortress guarding the entrance to the town . Return to Salo by boat admiring the shore of the lake as you go .
Lake Maggiore
An Intoxicating mixture of the exotic and the alpine , of mountain coolness and Mediterranean warmth
Terrace on Lake Como
View from Tremezzo