Page 135 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

THE LAKES OF NOR THERN IT AL Y  133

THE LAKES OF

NORTHERN ITALY

Appreciated by the ancient Romans for their beautiful
location and mild climate, the lakes of Northern
Italy – most of which are in Lombardy – are deservedly
renowned for the fascinating and unique combination
of magnificent scenery and historic and artistic heritage
that characterizes the lakeside towns.

Besides Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and Mediterranean vegetation can be seen
Lake Garda, there are smaller and less every where: vineyards, olive trees,
well-known bodies of water such as oleanders and palm trees. The many
the lakes of Orta, Varese, Iseo and Idro. splendid villa gardens along the lakes’
All these lovely lakes are the result of shores enhance the environment, and
glaciation in the Pleistocene era, which nature reserves have been established
enlarged clefts already in the terrain. The to protect some stretches. In the 18th
lake shores were inhabited during the century a visit to the lake region was one
prehistoric period – traces of ancient of the accepted stages on the Grand Tour,
civilizations have been found almost the trip to Europe considered essential for
everywhere – and for the most part were the education of young people of good
colonized by the Romans, as can be seen birth. These shores were also favourites
in the grid street plans of many towns with writers, musicians and artists such as
and in the villas at Lake Garda. Churches, Goethe, Hesse, Klee, Toscanini, Stendhal,
sanctuaries and castles were built here in Byron, Hemingway and Nietzsche. The
the Middle Ages. In the winter the shores numerous vantage points, connected
of the lakes can be battered by winds from to the shore by funiculars, narrow-gauge
Central Europe, but the climate remains trains and cable cars, offer truly
quite mild thanks to the water. Typical spectacular views over the landscape.

The town of Menaggio, on Lake Como
The Castello Scaligero on Lake Garda

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