GEMS OF THE ITALIAN LAKES 



By Arthur Ellis Mayer 



THERE are many places of beauty 

 and interest ni Europe, but few 

 that will compare in charm and 

 grandeur with the Italian lakes. Here 

 nature seems to have opened her store- 

 house and lavishly displayed her great 

 work; for there are few places where 

 one has such a wonderful combination of 

 air, sky, water, mountains, and vegetation 

 as well as embellishments by works of 

 man, both ancient and modern. I men- 

 tion the sky, for here we have the azure 

 blue color found in Italy, but rarely, if 

 ever, in our own country; this, when re- 

 flected in the deep emerald waters of the 

 lakes, with the snow-crowned mountains, 

 palm trees, villas, and palaces, makes a 

 picture in colors never to be forgotten. 



There are many lakes located in the 

 extreme northern part of the country, 

 some forming a portion of the boundary 

 line between Italy and Switzerland. The 

 most beautiful of these, however, are 

 Lake Como, Lake Lugano, and Lake 

 Maggiore, and to these we will devote 

 our special attention for a short while. 



IvAKe: como 



It is but a short journey by rail from 

 Milan to the shores of Lake Como, con- 

 sidered by many to be the most beautiful 

 of all the lakes in northern Italy. This 

 charming lake was one of the favorite 

 haunts of the old Romans, land was 

 known among them as Lacus Larius, but 

 is now the summer residence of the Mil- 

 anese aristocracy. It is 38 miles long, 

 one to three miles wide, and situated 

 among lofty mountains, some rearing 

 their peaks 5,000 feet above its placid 

 waters. 



The journey up the lake is one of the 

 most enjoyable scenic treats it is possible 

 to conceive. At one moment it appears 

 as a wide river, the banks being lined 

 Avith verdant slopes and terraces for the 

 growth of the vine, while at the next it 

 opens out as a vast stretch of land and 

 water with unrivaled natural effect. 



As the boat glides swiftly onward, won- 

 derful glimpses are to be had of the snow- 



Avhite villas and grim_ turreted castles 

 peeping out of the forest and semi- 

 tropical gardens. Another interesting 

 feature is the color of the foliage, as the 

 shores are bordered with the dull gray- 

 green of the olive, while a little higher 

 up is the brilliant green of the walnut and 

 chestnut, which harmonize so well with 

 the deep-blue sky and placid waters. 

 There are many peninsulas and promon- 

 tories jutting out into the water, and on 

 these are the odd and quaint villages sur- 

 rounded by their gardens, palms, and 

 olive groves. 



Ti-ii: Gi:M 01^ the: i,ake 



On one of these stands Bellagio as a 

 jewel in the crown of nature, situated 

 about half way up Lake Como, where 

 the southern extremity of the lake div- 

 ides into two bodies of water, the other 

 being called Lake Lecco (see page 949). 

 It is a charming location and the town no 

 less interesting, for here we have the 

 busy arcades, where the merchants dis- 

 play their wares of local industries. 



These consist principally of manufac- 

 tured woodwork made into inlaid boxes, 

 picture frames, and small articles of vari- 

 ous forms, and silks made into blankets, 

 scarfs, etc. It is indeed very interesting 

 to see the old-fashioned processes by 

 which these are made and the marvelous 

 dexterity with which the peasants use 

 their hands. 



Several streets leading to the upper 

 portion of the town consist of ancient 

 stone steps, lined on both sides with 

 shops and homes of small industries. At 

 the top of one of these flights of steps 

 stands the old church with the quaint 

 chimes that mark the hours and quarter 

 hours now as it did in ages past ; these 

 are answered by others across the waters 

 from numerous villages dotted along the 

 shores. The hotels are charmingly situ- 

 ated among beautiful palm trees and 

 roses, making a very picturesque appear- 

 ance. 



Following a zigzag path up the side of 

 the hill, a few minutes' climb brings into 



943 



