Italy is a popular tourist destination. Holidays in Garda, Como and Lake Maggiore are considered even more prestigious than on the seaside. In this article, we are going to talk about the last lake of the whole trinity. Few excursion tours to Italy from Russia provide their clients with the opportunity to see this blue pearl of the Alps with their own eyes. But in vain. After all, it is said: "If you have a heart and a shirt, sell the shirt and indulge your soul - visit Lake Maggiore." It is the second largest lake in Italy. Only Garda is larger than it in area. This lake is located on the border of Switzerland and Italy. Actually, the state cordon runs exactly along the water surface. On the Swiss side there are resorts such as Locarno, where the best balneological clinics in the country are located, and ancient Ascona. Not far from the shores of Lake Maggiore is Lugano, nicknamed the European Rio de Janeiro for its vibrant social life. But in this article we will not describe the resorts of Switzerland. Let's talk about the Italian part of Lake Maggiore. How to get there, where to stay and what to see - read below.
Geography
The name Lago Maggiore is translated from Italian as "Big Lake". The name of the reservoir speaks for itself: it stretches from north to south for as much as sixty-six kilometers. The lake was formed thanks to an ancient glacier that descended from the Alps and plowed up the basin, damming the reservoir with its moraine. This explains the narrowness of Maggiore, with its steep and steep banks. At its widest point, the lake spills over ten kilometers. At the same time, the reservoir is very deep (the maximum indicator is 375 meters) - after all, the glacial tongue slid along a tectonic fault. In Lake Maggiore, the water is very clean due to the constant circulation. This reservoir is located at an altitude of almost two hundred meters above sea level. The area of the lake is 212.5 square kilometers, which puts Maggiore in second place after Garda. The navigable river Ticino (tributary Po) flows into the reservoir and flows out of it. Lake Maggiore on the world map is divided by two European states. Switzerland, more precisely, the canton of Ticino owns only about twenty percent of the reservoir (in the north). But in the Italian part of the lake there is a border - between the provinces. The eastern coast of Maggiore belongs to Lombardy, and the western one belongs to Piedmont. Traditionally, the reservoir is usually divided into two parts - upper and lower. The first begins near the borders of Switzerland, near the town of Cannobio and extends to Verbania. Lower Maggiore is an area lying south of the conventional line Belgirate - Castelletto sopra Ticino in Piedmont.
Climate of the region
From the north, Lake Maggiore (Italy) is closed by the high Lombard Alps. They form the climate of the reservoir. It is soft, warm, but unpredictable. Of course, alpine peaks serve as a reliable barrier to cold northerly winds. But sometimes the icy air accumulated in high gorges breaks into the heated lake basin, causing storms. Then the locals say that maggiore (north wind) or mergozzo (west) blew. But these are emergencies. And usually the lake is famous for its wonderful mild and warm climate. does not freeze in winter. The water level in the lake depends on the season and fluctuates within four meters. Maggiore reaches its maximum filling in June - at the time of feeding the Ticino and other, smaller rivers. The tourist season lasts from May to October. Although during this period vacationers are not immune from unexpected storms. The prevailing winds are tramontana. It blows in the first half of the daylight hours from the lake to the shores. After lunch, the tramontana is replaced by the Inverna, which ripples on the water surface until sunset.
How to get to the lake
Excursion tours to Italy provide vacationers from Russia with trips to the capital of Lombardy Milan or the main city of Piedmont Turin. Getting to Lake Maggiore from these two points is not difficult. Independent travelers can be advised such a route. Regular flights of Alitalia and Aeroflot leave for Milan. From the capital of Lombardy, buses go to the resorts of Lake Maggiore. There is also a railway line ending in the coastal town of Verbania. The path from the north will be more intricate. First you need to get by plane to Lucerne, Basel or Zurich. Lugano also has an airport, but there are no flights from Russia. But from various Swiss cities you can get by train to Locarno or Bellinzona lying on the shores of Lake Maggiore in just three hours. And from there you can cross the border with Italy by bus (quickly and cheaply) or on a comfortable cruise ship (glamorous and chic). The main port in the southern part of the lake is Verbania. All resorts along the banks are connected by a network of excellent highways. Man has drilled the steep shores of the lake with tunnels long ago. So a trip on a regular bus from one point to another can already be considered an exciting excursion.
The amazing history of Lake Maggiore
The mild climate and the abundance of fish in the waters led to the fact that these places were inhabited for a very long time. It is not known what these Celtic tribes called the lake. But when the legionnaires of Ancient Rome came here, they were impressed by the size of the reservoir. Therefore, they named him Lacus Maximus. Translated from Latin, it means the Greatest Lake. The Romans surrounded the reservoir with a beautiful road, which in fragments has survived to this day. In the Middle Ages, the name of the lake changed. Since the shores of the reservoir were densely overgrown with fragrant verbena, they began to call it Verbano. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Napoleon's troops made a brilliant crossing over the Alps. The French strengthened and improved the old road, making it comfortable for carriages. The mild climate of the lake began to attract the Italian aristocracy to its shores. The wealthy built luxurious villas and palaces. The modest name of Lake Verbano did not reflect the grandeur of their home. Therefore, I remembered the old Roman name of the reservoir. It changed into modern Italian and began to sound like Lago Maggiore. Now resorts have sprung up on the shores of the lake, which were started by local aristocrats. But on the rocky ledges there are much more ancient feudal castles. In inaccessible places, monasteries stuck to the steep banks. And on the islets there are luxurious palaces of the Nobles and representatives of the papal curia.
What are the hotels in the resorts of Lake Maggiore
Where to stay at this lake, which gives an unforgettable vacation? Maggiore is dotted with resorts, each one unique. Whether you come to the Lombard side or the Piedmont coast, it will be good everywhere. The hotel facilities on the lake are well developed. But there is one but. Hotels in Italy cannot be called budget. And on Lake Maggiore, where vacation is considered prestigious, prices skyrocket - especially during the tourist season. But what a variety of hotels! You can even live on the Borromean Islands. True, such a pleasure will cost twenty-three thousand rubles per night. A lot of hotels are located in two resort towns - Verbanje and Stresa. For discerning clients, we recommend the five-star hotel Villa e Palazzo Aminta or the Grand Majestic. An excellent choice of accommodation is provided by local "four": "Belvedere", "Ankora" and others. Prices in them range from five to seven thousand rubles. Do not be afraid to stay in the "troikas". The Albergo Pesce d'Oro, Aquadolce and Il Ciostro hotels in Verbania are an excellent balance between price and quality of service. The cost of a room in such hotels is about three thousand rubles. Camping sites are open during the summer months. Not only customers with a car can stay in them. Campsites rent out mobile caravans.
Attractions of Lake Maggiore
Rest on this large alpine reservoir is remarkable not only for its natural beauty. In terms of the richness of historical and cultural attractions, Lake Maggiore is not much inferior to Milan, Turin or Verona. The lake is a wonderful symbiosis of lush southern nature and human genius. Palaces and villas blend beautifully with the landscape. An excursion to Lake Maggiore will not be complete without visiting the islands. Particularly popular is the Borromean archipelago with Isolo Bella (the palace of the cardinal is located on it), Pescatori, Madre, San Giovanni and tiny Scoglio della Mulgera. But the islands will be discussed below. It should be mentioned that the shores of the lake also do not lack palaces, villas and wonderful botanical gardens. Beach holidays against the background of these wonders recede into the background. And nature, which endowed Maggiore with rocky picturesque shores, did not create conditions for it. The beaches are mostly artificial terraces above the water surface. On the other hand, excellent conditions have been created for hiking and cycling tourism. On a small tourist boat, yacht or boat, you can make a fascinating journey along Lake Maggiore.
Mountain West Coast Resorts
Each is interesting in its own way. In Piedmont, the most "promoted" are Stresa and Verbania. The latter is due to the fact that it is a well-developed transport hub. Verbania has already become like Sochi - it includes small towns. And Stresa is interesting because from it it is easy to get to the Borromean Islands. In addition, the cable car cabins start from it, taking tourists to the top of Mount Mottarone, from where a charming view of the lake opens. Arona is very interesting. Here in 1538 was born San Carloon, a representative of the noble Borromeo family. The patrimonial nest, the Rocca Arona fortress, is no longer there - it was destroyed by Napoleon's troops. But you can admire the "Colossus of San Carlone" - a thirty-five-meter sculpture of this cleric. The resorts of Cannobio, Ogebbio, Cannero Riviera, Giffa, Baveno, Belgirate, Maine, Lesa, Castelletto sopra Ticino and Dormelletto are also very interesting. Special mention should be made of Stresa. The most famous villas on Lake Maggiore are located here. You should definitely see the Pallavicino Palace with a beautiful park. Also worthy of a visit are the villas Ducale and Castelli. Cannobio is a very ancient town with traces of the Romans. The Holy Trinity Mountain rises above Giffa, which is not far from Verbania. It houses a complex of chapels included in the UNESCO list.
Spa pearls of Lombardy
Even if you live on the west bank, there is nothing stopping you from crossing the narrow Lake Maggiore to admire the wonderful sights of the eastern region. Angera is located directly opposite Stresa. It is famous for its medieval castle, which alternately changed its brilliant owners - Scalligeri, Visconti, Borromeo. Angier should be visited with children, because inside the ancient citadel there is a wonderful.It was founded at the end of the twentieth century by Princess Bona Borromeo-Arrese. Lake Maggiore from the Lombard side is decorated with such no less interesting resorts as Ranko, Sesto Calende, Ispra, Bezozzo, Brebbia, Monvalle, Laveno-Mombello, Lejuno, Castelveccana, Brezzo di Bedero, Porto Valtravaggino, Maccan Germinya Tronzano Lago Maggiore and Pino Sulla Sponda. A real tourist attraction on the east coast is the monastery of Santa Catarina del Sasso. It was literally carved into a steep cliff at the beginning of the fourteenth century. The abode seems impregnable, but you can get into it not only from the water side, but also from land. Lovers of nature untouched by civilization can be advised to visit the Ticino National Park. It is divided between Lombardy and Piedmont. The park stretches along both banks of the Ticino River.
Lake Maggiore islands
Of course, the main attraction of the alpine reservoir is the Borromean archipelago. It consists of three small and two very tiny islets. Almost the entire territory of Isola Bella is occupied by the Borromeo Palace. The island is separated from the town of Stresa by only four hundred meters of water surface. The palace itself was built in the Lombard Baroque style in one thousand six hundred and thirty-two by Charles III Borromeo for his wife Isabella. A beautiful park, consisting of Italian and English parts, was laid out later. The castle was visited by Napoleon with Josephine, the English queen Caroline of Braunschweig and other famous persons. The name "Isola Pescatori" means that this islet has been inhabited since ancient times by fishermen. It is worth visiting this town and wandering through its narrow streets. On this tiny stretch of land, three hundred meters long and one hundred wide, several hotels are nestled. Albergo Verbano has only twelve rooms, so you need to book in advance. Isola Madre is privately owned. You can only admire it from afar. Lake Maggiore is famous not only for the Borromean archipelago. The three islets of Castelli di Kennero rise off the coast of Connobio. Ancient castles once stood on them - hence the name. The Lombardy region, unlike Piedmont, has only one island in Lake Maggiore. This is Izolino Partegora. But it has an excellent sandy beach.
What to try in this region
Lake Maggiore has long been famous for its fish. Therefore, the local region has developed its own cuisine, different from the Lombard and Piedmontese, where the main ingredients are meat and cheeses. So, everywhere in Lake Maggiore, you should try dishes from lake fish. Naturally, in the heat of the summer, it's a good idea to refresh yourself with wonderful Italian ice cream. There is no shortage of traditional pizzerias and spaghetti dishes here. But there are places on the lake where specialties are served that can only be tasted here and nowhere else. Gourmets should visit Stresa not only for the villas of Pallavicino and Ducale, the Borromean Islands or the peak of Mottarone. Only in this town are delicious friable cookies "Margeritine" made. The recipe for this dessert at the end of the nineteenth century was invented by a chef from Stresa especially for the Princess of Savoy. Later, Margarita became the queen of Italy.
Switzerland is a country of numerous mountains and lakes. Surprisingly clean, unrealistically azure, lakes in Switzerland are one of the best options for an easy vacation with the opportunity to enjoy the most beautiful landscapes. And it is best to look for the most beautiful lakes in the mountains, in time: it is there that you will find those postcard views, as if drawn, they are so beautiful and unreal. In clear calm weather, the surface of the lake turns into a mirror, in which mountain peaks and clouds are reflected, creating the illusion of a world floating in the air.
Switzerland has several large lakes, which you can walk along on a cruise ship. Lake cruises in Switzerland take place all year round, but not everywhere. For example, on Lake Lucerne you can even celebrate the New Year on a ship, but there are no cruises on the lake even in winter, only the summer period.
The two largest lakes in Switzerland - and Constance - are located on borders and share with neighboring countries (France and Germany with Austria, respectively). Lake Neuchâtel with an area of 218 sq. km is the largest wholly located in Switzerland. Lago Maggiore, only slightly smaller, is mostly located in Italy.
Lake Geneva
One of the most beautiful and beloved lakes in Switzerland by tourists is this. Named after the town near which it is located, the lake is a popular destination for summer vacations and for the construction of luxury villas. The lake is located on the territory of two countries - its southern part is located in the province of Como, Italy. There is an Italian exclave on the banks of the Swiss territory - the commune of Campione d'Italia.
With picturesque villages along its banks and surrounded by green mountains, Lake Lugano is an ideal destination for relaxation and active tourism. Quite elongated, 36 km long and no more than 2 km wide, it is the only one in Switzerland with a bridge over it.
From time to time, strong winds can blow on the lake - tivano (north) and breva (south). Porlezzina (east) sometimes brings violent storms. Thanks to the clean air, practically free of dust and fog, Lake Lugano is considered the best place for rest and treatment after respiratory tract injuries and for rheumatics. The holiday season lasts from May to October.
Lake Lucerne (Lake Lucerne)
About 40 km long it stretches in an arc along three cantons:, and. The lake is flowing: in the east, the Lint River flows into it, and in the west, in the center of Zurich, the Limmat River flows out of it. At the cape, the lake is divided into two parts by a dam: from the Zurich side is the Lower Lake, and in the east - the Upper Lake (Obersee), between and.
On Lake Zurich there are regular and ferry connections between the shores, including automobile (between Horgen and Meilen). Two old paddle steamers cruise among the ships: Stadt Zürich(Built in 1909) and Stadt rapperswil(Built in 1914).
The cruise along the entire Lake Zurich takes 1:50 from Zurich to Rapperswil. Along the shore of the lake, the same distance can be traveled by train in just 36 minutes. Departure from the pier Zürich Bürkliplatz. From 11 December 2016, an additional fare on Lake Zurich of 5 francs will be introduced in addition to a valid ticket for certain tariff zones.
Lake Constance in German is usually called Lake Constance - in honor of the German town of the same name on the border with Switzerland. The lake washes the shores of three countries at once: in the north it borders on Germany, in the south - on Switzerland, and on the east side it adjoins Austria. Lake Constance with an area of 536 sq. km, is the second largest in Switzerland, second only in size. The Rhine River flows through it.
Lake Constance is navigable: there is a ferry crossing (for example, from Constance to beautiful Meersburg), including for cars. German cities are located on the shores of the lake Konstanz(a very beautiful city, Swiss Pass tickets are still valid before it), Meersburg(a wonderful castle, and a beautiful town), Friedrichshafen(and this is the homeland of airships. Just think, there were airships flights from Fribrichshafen to Moscow and Tokyo !!!), Lindau and austrian city Bregenz... Located in the middle of Lake Constance Reichenau monastery island announced.
Lake Brienz
Summer on Lake Brienz (in German - Brienz See - Brienzsee) there are many regular flights to the side. Cruises on Lake Brienz operate from April to October, with much less cruises in the spring and fall than in the high season in summer.
Lake Brienz cruises start at CHF 30 and include breakfast / lunch or Swiss traditional.
Lake Zug
Lake Zug, named after the city, is located in two cantons - and, at the foothills. This is a navigable lake, and Zugersee Schifffahrt boats run around the city in cruise and regular mode. The maximum ticket price for a cruise on Lake Zug (between Zug and Arth) is 36 francs. A full-day ticket for the entire Zug region, including cruises on the Zugersee and Ägerisee lakes (Zuger Tagespass +) costs 39 francs per person (you can ride there and back unlimitedly). For children or owners - CHF 19.50.
The name Lago Maggiore literally means "Big Lake". It is located in the south of Switzerland, on the border with Italy, in. Most of the lake is located in Italy, in Piedmont and Lombardy.
The climate in the vicinity of Lago Maggiore is quite mild, thanks to which there are many resorts on the shores: Tenero in Switzerland and Canobio, Stresa, etc. Among the attractions of the lake are the Borromean Islands: Isola Bella, Isola Madre, Isola Superior, and Isola di- San Giovanni, located near the island of Brissago, and the Monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso, located on the side of a mountain in.
Lago Maggiore has cruises on the Locarno-Magadino route and to the islands. A ticket from Ascona and Locarno to Brissago Island costs 20.20 and 33.60 francs, respectively (+8 francs for entry). A ticket for 1 day in Lago Maggiore costs 38.00 CHF, for 2 days - 50.00 CHF. Tourist ticket Holiday Card Lago Maggiore (CH + I) is valid on the lake in Switzerland and Italy and costs 93 CHF for 3 days and 140 CHF for 1 week. A full day ticket on the Swiss side of the lake costs CHF 20.70 for 1 day for 1 zone or CHF 36.60 for 2 zones. With general abonnement (GA), SBB half-fare card or SwissPass tickets, a 2-zone ticket will cost CHF 29.30.
Lake St. Moritz or St. Moritzsee is located right at the foot of the town of the same name. It is the most northeastern and smallest in area in the chain of three large lakes in the Upper Engadine.
Lake St. Moritz is very popular with yachtsmen. In winter, when the surface of the lake is frozen by ice, it is used for sporting events: since 1906 - horse races "White Turf", in 1928 - part of the competitions of the Winter Olympic Games, and since 1988 - cricket tournaments. Currently, every January or early February polo matches are held here.
Lake Sils
Lake Sils or Sils-See ( Silsersee) is named after a nearby village. Due to the constant and rather strong winds blowing from the Maloya Pass, it is popular among windsurfers, yachtsmen and kiters. Lake Sils is the highest European lakes for commercial shipping. During the summer, there are regular boat trips that take tourists and hikers from Sils Maria to Maloja via Chastè, Plaun da Lej and Isola. Cruises operate from late June to September / October.
The famous German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche first visited Lake Sils in July 1881 and spent seven years there until 1888 in the village of Sils Maria, where he rented a room on the second floor in the house of the Durisch family. ... There he wrote a number of his works, including part of the book Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
This lake is most beautiful in early October, when the air is especially clear, and the local hills are painted with golden yellowed larches. It is his photographs that adorn numerous postcards with views of autumn Switzerland.
Silvaplana lake
Lake Silvaplana ( Silvaplanersee) is named after the village of the same name, located on the coast. This is one of the three large lakes of the Upper Engadine, located at the beginning of the rise to the southern slope of the Julius Pass. To the south of the lake, higher in the mountains, is the popular ski resort of Corvatsch.
The outward sediments of the Ova dal Vallun stream flowing into the lake led to the division of the lake into two parts, the lower (northeastern) part is a separate lake called Lej da Champfèr (Lej da Champfèr).
Thanks to the steady winds blowing from the Maloya Pass, Lake Silvaplana is popular with windsurfers, yachtsmen and kiters.
Lake Murten
Murten lake (on it - Murtensee -Murten-See) is named after the town of the same name, located on its southern coast, in, and borders with. Lake Murten is located at the foot of the Jura Mountains and, along with the Neuchâtel and Biel Lake, forms the hydraulic system of the Zeeland region (Lake District). There are regular cruises on these three lakes, including themed fondue cruises in winter (departures at 11:30 and 19:30, duration 3 hours, 55 CHF per person), but not every day. There is a New Year's Eve cruise (19:30 - 1:30, cost CHF 140 per person, including gala dinner).
Murten Licht-Festival 11.01.2017 - 22.01.2017 - Murten festival, cruises 18:00 - 22:00.
Lake Neuchâtel
Lake Neuchâtel is located near the city of the same name in western Switzerland, mainly in, but partially also in, and. Together with the Murten and Biel lakes, it forms the hydraulic system of the Zeeland region (Lake District).
With an area of 218 sq. km, Lake Neuchâtel is the largest in Switzerland, entirely located inland. The lake is located at an altitude of 429 above sea level, and the maximum depth reaches 152 m.
Lake Biel
This small lake, named after the city, stretches across the territory and. Together with the Murten and Neuchâtel lakes, it forms the hydraulic system of the Zeeland region (Lake District). In the south, lakes protrude from the water islet of St. Peter at 473 m, attracting many tourists (Jean-Jacques Rousseau once spent several months on it), and a small Rabbit Island at 448 m - the highest points of the underwater ridge, known as the "Pagan Paths", which dries up completely in low water and stretches to Erlakh.
Klöntaler See
Lake Klöntalersee or Lake Klöntal is a small picturesque lake in the center of Switzerland, at an altitude of 848 m above sea level. Since 1908, the lake has been used for electrification needs.
Klöntaler See is a popular route for.
Lake Walensee
Lake Walenseeor Lake Wallenstadt - one of the largest in the country. It is located in the east of Switzerland, 2/3 of it is located in and 1/3 c. The Lint River flows through the lake and flows into. The lake is quite picturesque - from the north, steep slopes of the Churfirsten mountain range, reaching an altitude of 2306 m, come right to the water's edge. The Mürtschenstock mountains rise above the southern shore.
Due to the fact that the lake is located deep in the valley, without excess sunlight, even in summer, the water temperature in the lake usually does not exceed 20 ° C).
Davos lake
Lake Davos is a small natural water reservoir with a maximum depth of 54 m, used for the production of hydropower. The lake fills with the waters of the Rhine, Flüelebach and Totalpbach springs. The lake is not navigable, it is used for fishing (you need a special permit).
Mountain lakes in Switzerland
In addition to the large lakes in Switzerland, it is worth at least once to climb the mountains to see the real alpine beauty and fabulous mountain lakes. Below you will find a selection of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Switzerland.
Located an hour and a half walk from the village of Kandersteg. An easy hike uphill with breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountain peaks of the Jungfrau-Aletsch region, listed by the canton of Nidwalden
Fuorcla Surlej (2760 meters above sea level), Mond, Val Roseg. Web site
The mountain hotel restaurant Fuorcla Surlej, located in the vicinity of Silvaplana and the Corvatsch ski area, in one of the most beautiful places in the Engadin region, in the canton of Graubünden. From here, a breathtaking view of the Piz Bernina (4.049 m) and Piz Roseg (3.937 m) mountain peaks opens up.
The hotel is closed from 10 October 2016 to 31 January 2017.
Open: from 1 February 2017 to 22 April 2017, depending on snow conditions. Daily from 8:30.
The number of seats inside is 40, the number of seats outside is 80.
Riffelsee
Riffelsee, Gornergrat, Zermatt
The small Riffelsee lake is located just below the mountain railway station (before reaching 1 station to the top). On a calm day, the surface of the lake, as in a mirror, reflects the snow-capped pyramidal peak of Mount Matterhorn.
From the lake there are numerous routes for, including.
Wildsee
The absolutely incredible Wildsee lake is located a half hour walk from the top station of the Pizol cable car. This is a completely cosmic landscape, with black jagged mountain peaks surrounding a milky-blue lake ... The fabulous place is part of the popular "5 Lakes" hiking trail, where you can go for a walk with a guide, ordering or on your own, if you are not the first time. The route is available for walks from June to October.
A small selection of colorful cozy restaurants, most of which are family businesses, which is felt both in service, atmosphere, and taste) Geography of location - Lakes Maggiore and Lugano at the intersection of Italy and Switzerland, which are in no way inferior in their beauty to their neighbors - Lake Como. And a little about Como too)
Lake Lugano
Grotto della Salute
Located in the hills just above the city of Lugano itself. Typical Italian menu, delicious homemade pasta, broth with tiny ravioli and huge Milanese schnitzel. There is also a cozy courtyard with tables under the crown of an ancient and huge plane tree. And lanterns creating a wonderful atmosphere)
Da candida
Chef's restaurant - Bernard fournier with one Michelin star. It is located on a piece of Italian land inside Switzerland - the Campione D'Italia enclave. French cuisine with an indicative dish - frog legs. In fact, this is the only restaurant in the entire enclave, the rest are just cafes. But on a beautiful waterfront.
La Posta
High above the city of Lugano, at the very top, there is a very picturesque village of Carona, which amazed with ancient buildings with elaborate frescoes, medieval courtyards and an old church.
The town clearly lives an active social life - it has a cozy restaurant La Sosta in the picturesque hotel Villa Carona, and in the same neighborhood there is a family restaurant La Posta in the premises of the old post office.
It is so family-run that there is only one family for the entire kitchen and service of all three rooms, so be prepared to wait a long time and be patient. To choose a wine, you will not be given a wine list, but will be sent to rummage in the wine cellar and there to choose any wine right from the shelf.
Molino del torchio
And this restaurant is right in the building of the old mill - the wheel was left working and is still rotating, for flavor it is natural) The restaurant is located almost in the forest in a meadow - hidden in large flowering trees, which is incredibly beautiful for holding large events. The menu includes game, homemade pasta and onion soup in bread, which is baked right there.
La Locanda Del Notaio
High in the mountains, deep in the forest. A secluded hotel, with a beautiful restaurant overlooking a lawn with a small pond and a sculpture of a dinosaur skeleton. It is run by one of the youngest star-marked chefs. Pretentious, tasty and beautiful)
Lake Maggiore
Da nani aerodromo
Also a family restaurant, inside such a completely dilapidated and touching garden with its neglect and neglect. From this courtyard there is a view directly to the old runway, which is no longer in use, and flocks of children run and ride on it in various types of plastic transport.
The kitchen has a touch of something Portuguese. A very tasty chicken - obviously from your own chicken coop, as they bring with the chicken and a piece of paper on which the serial number of the chicken eaten is written.
Ristorante Easy
One of the many establishments of the large Seven chain, on the embankment of the city of Ascona, where most of their places are concentrated (hotel, wine bar, etc.). Delicious pizza, wood-burning oven, slightly alpine design (with a wooden frame). The restaurant certainly stands out a little from the concept of this selection of family restaurants, but it deserves a lot of attention. And the main advantage of this restaurant is that you can eat in it all day long! That is, they do not close from 14:00 to 18:00, like everyone else, leaving Eastern European tourists who do not limit themselves in time for eating, starving)
The pizza menu is divided into white pizzas, red ones (with tomato sauce) and closed calzones - they are my favorites!
The second day has come. Today's tourist destination is the city Lugano in Switzerland. Moreover, it was only about an hour's drive from our hotel near Milan to the destination. Switzerland, like Italy, has toll roads. To use them, you need to buy a sticker for 40 francs (about 33 €) and stick it on the glass. The sticker grants you the right of way for a year. The fine for traveling with a hare on toll roads is 200 francs (about 160 €).
Considering that we only had to go there and back, we used free roads, which lengthened our journey by 40 minutes each way. On the way, a demonstration scene took place with the participation of the Germans. The road is narrow, one lane in both directions. In addition, there are many cyclists. The German behind the wheel in front of us was clearly torn between his law-abiding behavior and his desire to overtake the cyclist. Overtaking meant crossing a double continuous line, and the German kept following the cyclist until an additional saving lane appeared. There is little respect for doubles in America. If you turn left, you can cross it.
The border between Italy and Switzerland is a couple of signs and two empty checkpoints on both sides, near which there is a policeman from each country. The police talk to each other without looking at the cars passing by. And a lot of cars run away, also because gasoline and diesel fuel in Switzerland are 20% cheaper than in Italy. The shuttle business is booming, where is the State Customs Committee looking?
Lugano is a picturesque place. The city is located by a large lake and surrounded by mountains.
We parked near the central park and from there started our walking tour of the city.
The park is well maintained and clean, just idyllic. At the sight of such an idyll, for some reason I imagined Lenin and Krupskaya, ceremoniously strolling through this park (although they were unlikely to have been to Lugano during their "Swiss exile").
Then we walked around the center and along the embankment. Wherever we were, everything was licked, well-groomed and perfect. The standard of living is high here, but the prices are also high.
On the one hand, there is a note of boredom and satiety in this idyllic, well-groomed and calmness. Arriving here on vacation, I probably would have got bored on the second day. On the other hand, this place is perfect for those who want a quiet, measured rest in harmony with nature, relaxation with reading books on the shore of the lake in the shade of trees, saving from the summer heat.
Several old churches have survived in Lugano. One of them is the church Santa maria degli angioli, whose construction began in 1499.
After the end of the cultural and walking part of the program, a national Swiss dish was tasted - fondue (melted cheese with wine, into which pieces of bread, meat, vegetables, etc. are dipped). For what modern person has not tried fondue and deflop?
In many countries, to return, you need to throw a coin into a body of water, and in Switzerland - a bicycle.
It is a pity that we did not have a bicycle with us.
Today we need to cross the border of Italy and Switzerland and get as close as possible to the beginning of the ascent of St. Gotthard pass. Our minimum plan is to get to Bellinzona. There is a campsite and there I looked for a place for wild camping. I explained to Peter that the most difficult day will be on Wednesday, tomorrow. But in order to save strength for the pass, we need to get there today. We packed our things, screwed the wheels on our bicycles, packed up and started looking for a way to the border. There is a road, but just below the slope there is a local path where you can climb on a bike. At first we pedaled on the ascent, and when we drove onto Bellinzona Street, the descent began here. Along the edges of the street there are all sorts of shops, cafes and pizzerias. But many places are still closed. We found an open shop with fruit and decided to buy food, because we are entering an expensive country of Switzerland. And there was also an open-air cafe nearby, where we decided to drink hot coffee. I asked for cocoa, but there was none and was offered hot chocolate. A small and cozy cafe, a respectable Italian bartender made us thick, hot and sweet chocolate. They gave 2 euros each. Asked for a glass of water to drink. Grazia, Italy, we'll come back sometime.
The border passed unnoticed. Not in the sense that we disguised ourselves and imperceptibly slipped through all the cardons. At the border, which looks like two arches on the same street, two police officers stand and randomly check vans. Passenger cars simply slow down at the STOP sign. And bicycles pass through greenery. We smiled at the police, they smiled at us. We didn’t even understand if they were Italian lawmen or already Swiss ones. Here we are in Switzerland. You need to check the map and find the correct exit from the city of Chiasso. The correct exit is again an ascent, where, however, there was an excellent view from above of the city and the railway tracks.
There was one problem with electronic devices last night. I tried to charge my Garmin tracker, which I count the kilometers traveled, but it refused to charge. Most likely, when I was getting ready, I took the first usb-wire that came across. It was from an external hard drive and is only suitable for data transfer, not charging. The problem is that Garmin charges from the mini-usb plug, while most of the devices around the world are charged from the micro-usb. We asked around about a wire or a charger in a couple of cell phone stores, but they did not have such a product. We were advised in Lugano to visit the big MediaMarkt. Apparently, we will do so.
At the entrance to Lake Lugano, the road runs along the coast. Other cyclists are coming towards us and there are a lot of them here. Most of them are on highways. When we were approaching the bridge on the opposite side of the road two guys in “Astana” uniform passed by. Seeing the expressive schnobel, I was stunned. Fabio Aru himself drove towards us. This face cannot be confused with any other. Cool, I don't want to wash my eyes directly.
According to the legend of the route on the veloland.ch website, our path was supposed to go straight, but I determined from the map that you can noticeably cut off and immediately drive into Lugano. Therefore, after the bridge, we turned right and rolled uphill, along the road along the railroad tracks. It was another ascent, but we were preparing for this. Peter goes uphill with difficulty, but does not lag far behind.
We are entering Lugano. We collect drinking water in the fountain, ride along the embankment and went to look for the Shopping Center to buy wires. I had to spend money in the store - I bought a Hama wire (gold-plated). Damn, I now have a real Hama USB lanyard for CHF 17. What is so unique about him? Are the bytes transmitted in a high-quality tube way? There are few people in the shopping center on weekdays. I notice a man sitting in the armchair, he damn similar to Eric Clapton. There's also a guitar on a T-shirt. Either I am very lucky to meet with celebrities, or this is his very good double.
Time is one o'clock in the afternoon, the heat begins. We bought cold cola and had a little lunch. They ate fruit and gnawed on nuts. At the same time, they turned down the wi-fi. Then we left Lugano and now our path leads to Belinzona.
Having traveled about ten kilometers through an open area, the bike path turned into a forest. I took advantage of the moment and decided to take a break in the shade for 20 minutes. In this heat, even water does not help. The body is heated to the maximum and any liquid infused simply instantly evaporates through the skin. I try to sleep for 20-30 minutes in the hottest. We grow cellophane from the bike and cut it down for half an hour. Cyclists on mountain bikes sometimes pass by.
Here I have to explain that there are differences in bicycle signs. We haven’t figured it out yet, but it seems we have never lost our way. Cycle paths, mountain biking, rollerblading and hiking trails cross the whole of Switzerland. So the roads for mountain bikes and road bikes sometimes diverge. And if you were driving along a normal road, and then saw a sign with a jumping bike, then do not rush to turn where it will show. Perhaps this will be a separate detour for owners of piston forks and wide tires.
Leaving the forest, we drove through a gas station, there was even an opportunity to charge Tesla electric cars. And then the descent began. Yes, so steep and with turns that my hands ached from the convulsive holding of the steering wheel. The descent was along the usual road, where cars and large-size trucks go. It was dumb to drive out. While we were rushing down the mountain, a couple of cyclists drove to meet us. One was seemingly not heavily loaded, while the other was slowly rolling uphill with front and rear bike bags. What do people take with them?
We drove into a valley between the mountains. So we have completed the program at least and reached Bellinzona. And the time is about 4 days. We did not enter the city itself, since the path leads separately through the fields. Sometimes the smells of greenery mixed with fried food from the surrounding home evoke associations with Asia. The rich colors of the fields are exactly the same here.
We roll through small towns. Ahead we can already see snow-capped peaks, but they are far away. Inside, treason is born - what if we have to climb these mountains tomorrow. Sometimes, in order to capture a good shot, you have to choose a position so that the wires of power lines do not fall into the lens.
Many waterfalls and streams flow from the slopes of the mountains. And often a small hydroelectric power station is installed nearby.
In Biasco we stopped at a supermarket and bought soda, rolls and apples. Through the fields and without any climbs, we drove to the town of Giornico. On the way, we met a couple from Germany - my uncle and aunt were traveling from St. Gotthard. They are wearing jackets, so I asked them how cold it was on the pass. They replied: "It's very cold, especially when you go downstairs." And then my aunt finished me off with the phrase that from our side the ascent to the pass is much more difficult. Fine! Now I will be even more worried about tomorrow's rise and will not sleep at night.
Later we met another bike traveler. A young guy from Vancouver, Canada. Stunned, a dude from another continent flew in to ride in Europe. He also confirmed to us that there is Dubak at the pass. We wished each other good luck, though I forgot to chat with him about hockey.
It's already half past seven. The nearest campsite is 15 kilometers away. We cross the river, take pictures, and a new ascent begins. There are already few cars on the road, the sun does not get here and the sky is getting darker. At the beginning of the ninth, I decide to look for a place for a wild camp. We find an exit from the road, which leads up the hill. We climb through the barrier, then through very thorny bushes and along the path we find ourselves on a clean plateau. We are surrounded by bushes and no one will disturb us. We set up a tent and have supper with all that is left. The place seems to have been planned for the construction of a house. Even a few concrete slabs stand above the foundation pit. But the owner changed his mind about living here and the site was useful for tourists like us.
Those bushes through which we made our way were zapodlyanskie with long thorns. I had to check both bikes for punctures. I carried the bike on my shoulder, so my tires were clean. And at Petka I found one spike in the wheel. I had to fish it out with my nails. The wheel does not lower, but if you continue to go with such a spike, then it will slowly sink into the depths of the rubber until it does its vile deed. Spent about ten minutes pulling it out. Peter writes a sms-ku home with the text that we go to bed in an illegal place. He grabbed his hand in time. “Please, think that you are writing. Do you want your mother not to fall asleep all night and wonder what this illegal place is? Write to her that you have set up a tent in the bushes by the road. " I also found an illegal. We sent a message and went to bed.
We got two tracks in a day. Before I bought charging wires in Lugano. And the way from Lugano. In total, we drove 116 km.