From the Duomo of Milan, Heading to the Lakes

Leaving the beautiful and chaotic city of Milan heading north, leave the urban air behind to let yourself be seduced by the natural freshness.
Get ready to discover the most beautiful lakes and villages where the landscape and the food merge in front of your eyes and palate... on your way to Lake Maggiore!

A little more than an hour's drive away is Lake Maggiore, which lies between the provinces of Piemont and Lombardy.
This lake is a place to see, feel and enjoy a swim, or a nice walk. The best access is via Cicognola Beach, which is free and has a good expanse of grassy and sandy area with fine pebbles, ensuring that you always have ample space to be, even if it is crowded at any given time.
As a curiosity, there are still vestiges of what used to be a seaplane landing port, right on the shore in front. If you look closely, you can still see the remains of the columns that held up the old pier.

It is best to leave the car outside the village, as it is a restricted traffic zone, and only residents are allowed to circulate.
At this point, for example, you can park for free near the village.

A ride on the trenino is the best way to visit the town of Orta di San Giulio, on the shores of Lake D'Orta, a very picturesque and beautiful place to see.
The train ride takes less than an hour and you can get off at any stop.
From the centre, located in Piazza Motta, you can enjoy wandering through the charming streets, enjoying a tasty ice cream or an aperitif before lunch.
From March to October it is open from 9.00 to 18.00 every day, taking advantage of the good weather.
You can make a reservation by calling +39 366 409 9607.
At the end of the tour, you can return to the car park to pick up your car and continue your route.

This Trattoria is a special establishment that occupies the premises of a centuries-old monastic complex located at the top of Monte San Salvatore - hence its name.
Adjacent to the restaurant is a small church open for celebrations in the summer months.
The protagonists of the menu are appetizers with cold cuts and mixed pickles, risotto with mushrooms and polenta with stewed meats.
Closed on Mondays for a break and Sunday afternoons.
Reservations are required at Tel. 0322 21 93 01.

After lunch, the next stop will be to enjoy a nice boat ride. Before taking the boat to visit Insola Bella and the Palazzo de Borromeo, you can park here, as it is the closest point to the pier.

From this point you can go sailing and discover the Borromean Islands, to which daily departures are made from 09.00 hours. There are frequent trips between islands, with the last return at 18.00 hours.
You can choose between several routes for this pleasant excursion. To organize your boat visit this website.
The Borromean Islands are open from March to October. Dogs are allowed on board.
More information at: info@isoleborromee.com

Until 1630, Isola dei Pescatori was a fishermen's islet with two small churches and some vegetable gardens. The emblematic garden of Isola Bella was built between 1631 and 1671.
The Teatro Massimo is the central monument of the garden of Isola Bella. Statues and fountains blend in with the vegetation of the ten spectacular terraces, where you will find the statue of the Unicorn, heraldic symbol of the Borromeo family.
The entrance ticket for the visit to the gardens is purchased directly on the island.

The Borromeo Palace, named after the family that owned it, is a magical space that can be visited, as well as the Bella Island that houses it.
There are different formats of visits and prices of the same. The most common is the combined visit of Bella Island and the Palace, for 24 € per adult person.
The visiting hours are from 10:00 to 17:30 h. With this ticket you can visit the island, the palace and its gardens, something not to be missed.

At the end of the pleasant boat tour, you can return to the pier to continue on foot to pick up your car.

At dinner time, you can go to Amarea. It is a different and original place, where the specialty is the fish burger, it is delicious! Make a reservation on Amarea's facebook page.
Opening hours: Monday - Sunday: 11:30 - 14:30, 18:00 - 00:00.
Possibly the best way to end the day before going to rest.

A good place to spend the night is the Hotel De La Paix, where value for money is the strongest point.
It has a good summer swimming pool, and a breakfast that will certainly put you in shape to face the next day.