Five Romantic Lakeside Destinations in Lombardy’s Lakes Region
Torre San Marco in Gardone Riviera on Lake Garda.
Tremosine on Lake Garda.
Monte Isola, Lake Iseo.
Lovere on Lake Iseo.
Tremezzo on Lake Como.
“One can’t describe the beauty of the Italian lakes, nor would one try if one could,” said American novelist Henry James. We won’t try then, but let the following photographs do the work instead.
This month, we head to Lombardy, our featured region for November. Lombardy boasts many beautiful lakes, the major ones being: Lago di Garda, the largest; Lago di Como, the glitziest; Lago d’Iseo, the quietest.
We picked five lakeside towns among these three lakes that make for cozy romantic escapes, even, and perhaps more so, in November, when crowds are low and the fog may envelop them.
All of the five towns described below are part of ‘The most beautiful villages in Italy’, an association that comprises small Italian towns with strong artistic and historical interest.
Lake Garda
Gardone Riviera: on the western shore of Lake Garda, elegant Gardone Riviera, nicknamed ‘città giardino’ (garden city) is especially famous for the Vittoriale degli Italiani, the former residence of Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, who donated it to the Italian State before his death.
Tremosine: between the mountains and the lake, the ‘Alpine’ and the ‘Mediterranean’, lies the verdant plateau of Tremosine, a must for everyone looking for a breathtaking view of the lake and for a relaxing break amid unspoiled nature.
Lake Iseo
Monte Isola: located on the island by the same name found in Lake Iseo, which at 12.8 square kilometers makes it the largest lake island in Italy, Monte Isola dates back to Roman times and features several churches built between the 15th and the 17th centuries with frescoes, statues and altars in vernacular art.
Lovere: at the north-west end of Lake Iseo, Lovere faces the lake and has mountains in the background. The houses display a mix of Swiss and Italian architecture, with overhanging wooden roofs and heavy stone arcades.
Lake Como
Tremezzo: on the western shore of Lake Como, Tremezzo is best known for its villas, the most famous being Villa Carlotta, which was built in 1690 and extends over 70,000 m2, including the beautiful Italian garden with steps, fountains and sculptures. Can’t you picture yourself strolling the gardens hand in hand with your sweet half?!
