Lake Maggiore is the second largest water body in the heart of the Italian Lake District and spans the border between Italy and Switzerland. With luscious Alpine scenery, crystal clear waters and charming lakeside towns it is no wonder that Lake Maggiore villas are so popular. The long lake winds its way through the glacially carved valley from towering mountains in the north to gently undulating countryside in the south. There are numerous intriguing towns and villages along the 150 kilometres of shoreline, each with their own individual character and you can find Lake Maggiore villa rentals all over this area. Activities include boat trips, hiking, mountain biking, sailing and windsurfing, and there is a fantastic 18 hole golf course at Des Iles Borromees with incredible views over the lake. Excellent continental bars and restaurants can be found in most major towns around the lake with the occasional nightclub here and there, as well as jazz festivals during the summer months. Visitors staying in Lake Maggiore villas often take day trips to the Italian city of Milan with its wealth of shops and architecture, or to Zermatt in Switzerland located at the foot of the Matterhorn.
Lake Maggiore enjoys a typically Mediterranean climate of hot summers with plenty of sunshine and the occasional thunderstorm that helps to clear the air. A frequent cool breeze blows down the lake from the mountains which is welcome during hot summer’s days and it is also an advantage to the numerous wind surfers that can be seen zipping up and down the lake. Lake Maggiore villas with pools are especially popular during the summer months, providing somewhere to cool off in the heat of the day. If your villa does not have a pool the lake itself is clean and warm enough to bathe in during the summer, particularly in July and August. People that rent Lake Maggiore villas during spring and autumn may enjoy the milder temperatures. Occasional snowfalls occur during the winter, mainly on the upper levels of the mountains making downhill and cross country skiing possible, especially on Monte Rosa.
For an interesting day trip during your stay in a Lake Maggiore villa take a boat ride between the beautiful Borromean Islands on the western side of the lake. Isola Madre is the largest of the islands and is home to some beautiful gardens that surround a 16th century palace. Another fantastic way to spend the day on Lake Maggiore villa holidays is to take a round trip of the lake by train and ferry. The Centovalley train is a delightful narrow-gauge railway that winds its way up the lakeside on an especially scenic journey across bridges and viaducts. Stopping off at villages along the way, the train takes you across the Swiss border to the town of Locarno in the north where you can return by ferry. Locarno is a small but popular place to rent a villa on Lake Maggiore. In the town you will find a scale model of the solar system, known as Astrovia Locarno, where the distance between the Sun and Pluto is around six kilometres making a pleasant walk or bicycle ride. Once you reach the end of the model, you have the option of getting the Centovalley train back to the centre of Locarno. On the edge of the Old Town you will find the architectural marvel of the 12th century Castello Visconteo which has been largely rebuilt over the centuries.
The last Italian town on the west shore of the lake before reaching the Swiss border is Cannobio. This town is mostly visited by people staying in Lake Maggiore villas because of its famous painting of the Virgin Mary which is said to have bled from the canvas in 1522 shortly before an outbreak of the plague in the region. The town of Cannobio was relatively unharmed during this unfortunate time which is believed to be the result of the painting which you can now visit in its own chapel. Another popular town on Lake Maggiore is Stresa with its luxury lakeside villas and classical music concerts during the summer. A scenic cable car ride takes you up Monte Mottarone with a stop at some impressive Alpine gardens on the way. After walking the short distance to the summit, you will be rewarded by spectacular views of the Italian Lake District and on a clear day it is possible to see up to seven lakes.
