Italian Lakes real estate is garnering keen interest from overseas buyers. The region is increasingly popular as a second-home destination as well as a weekend retreat, thanks to the lakes’ extraordinary beauty, accessibility and dual-season appeal.
Wealthy Italians, Austrians, Swiss and Germans have always visited the Italian Lakes, but with its global appeal, the region is becoming increasingly popular with British, Scandinavian, Dutch, Belgian, French, Russian, North American and Middle Eastern property buyers.
It is not difficult to comprehend why. Combine its mild climate, lavish villas, Mediterranean scenery and landscapes, traditional villages and beautiful mountains. Think about it all being reflected in the serene waters of the lakes and the result is a magical place that beckons to high net worth individuals intent on finding a place to relax and enjoy life.
Most of the Italian Lake District benefits from a superb microclimate, creating endless possibilities and activities for everyone including hikers, cyclists, boaters, foodies, wine connoisseurs, golfers, explorers, culture seekers, piazza sitters, art lovers, people watchers, and spa goers.
Four of Italy’s most important lakes are located here: Como, Maggiore, Orta and Garda. While each delivers its own particular charm and beauty, together they benefit from, and help to deliver, a wonderfully mild microclimate boasting cooler summers than are found in Southern Italy, pleasantly mild winters and warm springs and autumns.
Sitting near the Swiss border, Lake Como, with its charming resort towns and stately lakefront villas dwarfed by snow-capped peaks, affords a sense of exclusivity and prestige. Beautiful and atmospheric, Lake Como has rugged beauty, surrounded by high mountains and dramatic cliffs. These unique qualities have drawn a great many loyal visitors, most notably Hollywood A-listers and business leaders such as George Clooney, Madonna, Donatella Versace and Sir Richard Branson. No wonder Lake Como enjoys a reputation as the luxe lake.
Lake Maggiore may not be as famous as Como, but is less flashy and more sedate and charmingly more old-fashioned. At the foot of the majestic Alps and less than an hour from Milan and Switzerland, Lake Maggiore is one of the most elegant and refined holiday home destinations in Italy. Boasting Old World charm and sophistication, it is impossible not to be seduced. Adding to the allure are the Belle Epoque style villas, luxurious hotels and majestic castles, and plenty of magnificent Italian gardens. It has some of the most coveted views in Europe, with unspoilt and lush countryside. It is no surprise that Lake Maggiore property is so popular with international house hunters.
Lake Orta has long been a favourite with Italians, thanks to the quiet beauty of the landscape, its fascinating history and its wealth of artistic treasures. In Milan, they have fondly nicknamed Orta La Cenerentola, or Cinderella, in recognition of it being seen as superior to the larger Como and Maggiore. Italians love to think of Orta as their little secret, a magical place where time stands still, a place that is shrouded in a mystery that makes it almost supernatural.
Garda is the largest of the four lakes and is bordered by the regions of Veneto, Trentino and Lombardy. It boasts the most varied landscapes, ranging from inlets that look like fjords in the north with sheer cliffs dropping beneath its surface, to beaches and gentle hillscapes draped in vineyards and olive groves. The mountains watch over Garda most hospitably, allowing for a lovely climate and luxurious vegetation. It is also known as the cleanest of the lakes and is popular as the perfect place for swimming and sunbathing, sailing and windsurfing.
As a second-home hotspot, property in Italy's Lake District has lost none of its dazzle. International buyers are turning to the Italian Lakes as they search for the quintessential Italian lifestyle. With its heritage and history, plus that perfect natural environment, the Italian Lake District promises to maintain its international allure well into the future.
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