Lakes

Piedmont lakes offer visitors their beautiful nature, but also art and entertainment. Among water sports that you can practice there are sailing and windsurfing, rowing and water skiing. The areas of the lakes but also offer other opportunities for sport: horse riding and golf, hiking and mountain biking, hang gliding and paragliding from the mountains.
Be nominated are then the famous tourist destinations in the Lago Maggiore and Lago d'Orta and Orta as Stresa S. Julius, but also lesser-known lakes, but also very beautiful to visit, like those of Candia, the Val d'Ossola and Viverone.

• Lake Maggiore . One of the largest lakes in Italy, is of glacial origin. From the Iron Age (ninth century BC.) Shores of the lake were populated by Golasecca civilization, which derives its name from the location where they were found much evidence of this population. Then there came the Gauls and Romans. Subsequently, the XV AD onwards, the lake for nearly three centuries, is owned by the powerful family of Borromeo, who built villas, castles and gardens. In the eighteenth century, the lake goes on to the Austrians and delivered to the Savoy. Lake Maggiore is bordered by Switzerland and Lombardy. Piedmont has the western part, which affects the provinces of Novara, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. Near the lake stands the Sacred Mountain of the Holy Trinity, at Griffa, which offers a splendid view over the lake. On the lake rise the Borromean Islands, whose name derives from noble Milanese family of Borromeo. Are three: the Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori, Isola Madre. They are located approx. 400m from the coast and are famous for their beautiful Italian gardens. Sull 'Isola Bella is the sumptuous Palazzo Borromeo, with its spectacular formal gardens of the Baroque period, which is divided into 10 terraces slope down to the lake. The palace is now home to the Historical Museum and the arts. L 'Isle of fishermen houses a small village in which they live 50 people living on fishing and tourism. The small hamlet unfolds in characteristic narrow alleyways that often lead to picturesque landscapes. Finally on 'Isola Madre is the magnificent botanical gardens, surveyed by the Royal Horticultural Society as one of the most beautiful in the world. The garden surrounds the Borromeo another residence dating from the eighteenth century.
• Lago d'Orta . The lake is located between the provinces of Novara and the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. The lake has one island, the beautiful island of St. Julius, characterized by its narrow streets overlooked by old houses and Baroque palaces. Near the lake is also the beautiful Sacred Mount of Orta, part, along with other Holy Mountains of the World Heritage. The lake rises also a nice town of Omega and Miasino.
• The lakes of Val d'Ossola, valley of the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, which includes lakes Antrona of Camposecco of Cingino.
• Lake Mucrone (BI). This is a glacial lake at the shrine of Oropa, reached by a cable car. In winter you can either cross-country descent.
• Lake Viverone (To and VC). Lake of glacial origin, were found on its banks finds (piles) the Bronze Age. Addition to the archaeological site to visit is also the country of Roppolo, with its thirteenth-century castle.
• Lago di Candia (TO). The lake located about thirty kilometers from Turin, in a very humid and very important for birds. Reaches a maximum depth of 8 m. and is surrounded by Natural Park of Lake Candia. It is located in the Po Valley in Piedmont, before the mountain barrier of the Western Alps.
• In Val di Susa, near Turin, is the natural park of lakes Avigliana, which includes Grand Lake and Lake Small, and the Mont Cenis, harnessed for hydroelectric purposes. From the castle of Avigliana you can enjoy a beautiful view of the lake and surrounding mountains.
• The lakes of Monviso (CN), the upper valley of the Po