"The beauty of Italian lakes cannot be described, and if it was possible, no one would do it” — wrote Henry James, but generations of writers have described the region in a spirit of similar admiration.. Lakes undoubtedly deserve it, and their beauty is indeed extraordinary. No wonder, that the most romantic and melodramatic creators of Italian operas, Verdi, Rossini and Bellini, rented coastal villas, to be able to work in these areas. British and German Romantic poets also spoke of the lakes with admiration., thus consolidating their existence in the minds of northern Europeans. The result is a massive influx of older holidaymakers from the north, who come in the summer, to admire the dream Italy and drink in great sips from the "cup of warm noon”, to use Keats' words.
It would be unwise to literally drink lake water, because they are very polluted. Como is called by the natives "the toilet of Italy”, a and on the shores of these lakes, np.: Iseo, industry developed. This does not discourage crowds of sailors and windsurfing enthusiasts, and in the height of summer it is difficult to resist the temptation to take a bath. The cleanest lake is Garda, but you can bathe and elsewhere; only the obviously dirty stretches of the coast should be avoided and avoid drinking the water.
For those looking for other attractions, than swimming and water sports, the best are Maggiore and Como, with lush botanical gardens and luxurious villas on the shores and islets.
Numerous valleys cut into the mountainous terrain between the lakes. Their lower parts are dotted almost everywhere (built up) industrial plants, and rivers reduced to the size of streams by hydroelectric plants, but in the background there are areas untouched by civilization and perfectly suitable for walks. There are also a number of ski resorts here.
Two cities are also worth visiting in the north of the province, Bergamo and Brescia. Located on a hill, walled Bergamo boasts one of the most beautiful, historic old towns in Italy, besides, it is a good base for exploring the lakes of Como and Iseo and the mountainous area between them. Further east, halfway between Lago d'Iseo and Lago Garda, Brescia, is best known from the arms industry, but it also has an interesting old town and a location for hiking in the mountains.