As if Italy didn’t have enough remarkable natural offerings: in addition to the dramatically beautiful coastline and painterly country landscapes, there’s also a spectacular lake district. Sprawled across Northern Italy these highly scenic Alpine and Mediterranean settings have entranced writers, artists, world figures and celebrities for centuries.

While Lake Como may be the most famous of the group, and Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda are certainly popular with international travelers, other lesser-known spots like Lake Orta and Lake Iseo are well worth a visit. To get a sampling of the splendors of each lake, here are five towns (from west to east) not to miss.