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Immortalized by writers and artists centuries ago, the Italian Lakes are now frequented by celebrities and sophisticated travelers looking to escape the heat at a bucolic waterside retreat. The lakes of Como, Garda and Iseo are unified by their regal palace hotels, chic, bronzed patrons and dramatic panoramas, but each is distinctly different. Here, we round up the best of the Italian lakes, long classic destinations for those in search of the glamorous European summer, and exciting new additions, from a hotly anticipated art installation to a sleek new hotel on Lake Como.
The smallest and least-touristed of the Italian Lakes is finally outshining the rest this summer, thanks to a hotly anticipated installation from world-renowned artist Christo. This month, Lake Iseo is set to hit the international scene when Christo launches The Floating Piers, an ambitious art installation that will link two islands to the mainland. From June 18 to July 3, visitors will be able to traverse the lake on top of 200,000 floating cubes swathed in dahlia-yellow fabric. The opening is timed to coincide with the last two days of Art Basel, about 250 miles away. Here are more tips on what not-to-miss when visiting Lake Iseo:
Described by poet William Wordsworth as a “treasure whom the earth keeps to herself,” Lake Como is the center of a region that’s both wild and civilized, decadent and low-key, enormous and intimate. The most famous of the Italian Lakes (which, unfortunately, is unswimmable) is home to classic hotels and gardens, but this year a new hotel is shaking up the status quo. Opened in June, Il Sereno Lago di Como is operated by the luxury brand behind Le Sereno on St. Barth’s. The cutting-edge property is located just a five-minute drive from Como town, and boasts thirty-four modern suites and an infinity pool that capitalizes on the dramatic landscape. Here are more tips on what not-to-miss when visiting Lake Como:
With jagged cliffs carved by the last Ice Age, Lake Garda boasts one of Europe’s most dramatic landscapes, and yet it is often overlooked in favor of the celebrity-adored Lake Como, which lies two hours west. What Lake Garda lacks in movie-star glitz, it more than makes up for with a slower pace of life that emphasizes relaxation, authentic Italian living and an atmosphere that transports visitors to an era when literary legends (Catullus, Lord Byron, Ezra Pound) frequented its calming shores. Here are more tips on what not-to-miss when visiting Lake Garda:
Indagare members can contact our Bookings Team for customized recommendations and itineraries for any of the Italian Lakes.
We only feature hotels that we can vouch for first-hand. At many of them, Indagare members receive special amenities.
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