Lake Maggiore:
Near to Milan, Italy, there are Lake Garda, Lake Como and one of Italy's largest lakes, Lake Maggiore. This has fast, modern, lakeside ferry boats. Regular services plus high-speed catarmarans and hydrofoils take you to the towns and villages around the Lake - these will be a highlight of your holiday. Places to visit by boat are the lovely village of Cannobio and the town of Stresa which features magnificent 19th century luxury hotels where you might expect to meet Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot. Opposite Stresa are the Borromean Islands - Isola Bella 'beautiful island' has a fairytale palace and garden. Isola Madre and Isola Pescatori also have great appeal. An inexpensive water taxi from Stresa takes you there.
A great day out is the Lago Maggiore Express by boat from Luino up the Lake to the Swiss towns of Ascona and Locarno where you take the 'Hundred Valley' train into the Swiss Alps then connect to Stresa and back by boat to Luino. A lovely day trip.
Luino, Lugano, Como and other Italian Lakes:
Luino is a nice town by the lakeside with shops, supermarkets and good restaurants (Hotel Camin is highly recommended for a celebration dinner for two or for a party). Luino hosts a huge street market on Wednesdays - another highlight. A fantastic bread shop is off the main square - early risers can pop down for your scrummy breakfast rolls. Alternatively, within walking distance, a small modern supermarket opens at 8.30am.
Another advantage is that you are 30-mins by car from Switzerland and the Swiss city of Lugano - and 45-mins from the Italian city of Como. Lake Como enjoys its own lakeside ferry service and features the gorgeous town of Bellagio, plus Villa Carlotta - try spotting George Clooney's villa. Further visits can be made to Lake Garda and the smaller Italian Lakes.
We recommend the 'AA Guide to The Italian Lakes' for good information, in particular its 'Top Ten', all of which are easy day-excursions from the apartment (available from AA Publishing).
Milan:
An advantage of Italy is your access to low-cost trains. A 60-min commuter train (90-min normally) takes you to Milan city centre. The city is famous for shopping, fashion, rich history - and its cathedral, a forest of stone pinnacles, totally OTT.
It's a short metro train ride to Santa Maria delle Grazie and da Vinci's fantastic oil painting 'THE LAST SUPPER', now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Book a 15-min time slot, like a private viewing, at the English language website http://www.cenacolovinciano.org/english/index.html. Pinch yourself, you're standing in front of the world's greatest masterpiece.
Milan, one of the premier cities of Europe, is worth an overnight stay. There are hundreds of inexpensive restaurants & hotels.
Opera is available to the man-in-the-street in Italy - so buy seats at La Scala, described as the world's favourite opera house in '1000 Places To See Before You Die'. Italy has 63 entries - La Scala is number 26 (Page 203).
This city has buzz!
Other Activities:
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