The Italian Lakes are glimmering, glacier-made bodies of water in northern Italy. Maggiore, Como and Garda are the three largest, and each is ringed with picturesque villages and backed by steep mountains.

The biggest reason to visit is the spectacular scenery, but there's lots more to do besides admiring the views from a shoreline dining room. You can explore historic villas – and the grand gardens that surround them – visit castles and Roman ruins, and get your nature fix on kayaking tours, mountain biking excursions and hilltop hiking trails.