Lake Maggiore
Split between two regions and two countries, with the islands in the middle and the Ticino park behind.
Maggiore is the second largest Italian lake and belongs to three different owners: the eastern shore is Lombard, the western Piedmontese, the northern part Swiss. The Varese shore is less built up than the Piedmontese one and has more campsites, nearly all between Angera and Laveno.
The Borromean islands lie off Stresa, on the Piedmont side, and are reached by boat even from the Lombard shore. The Rocca di Angera, looking down on the lake from a spur of rock, is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the north.
Behind the lake
Behind the Lombard shore lies the Ticino park, the first river park established in Italy, with hundreds of kilometres of cycle paths along the river and the canals. Further east are the other six lakes of the Varese province, small and quiet, and the Sacro Monte above the town.
Malpensa is twenty minutes away, which makes this the handiest area for anyone arriving by air and hiring a vehicle.