Glittering bodies of freshwater surrounded by plunging green slopes dotted with fruit-coloured villas, Italy’s northern lakes are supremely beautiful and romantic places. They’ve been adored by travellers for more than a century and increasingly by foreign homebuyers for the past several decades. But there’s significant difference between the dozen or so northern lakes in terms of size, price and popularity, and anyone considering buying a home in the northern lakes area should become more familiar with their manifold options.
Sailing and watersports paradise Lake Garda is the largest, busiest and most popular of Italy’s northern lakes. It’s also the most expensive for property, especially as you inch northward into its most dramatic stretches. Second most popular, and breathtakingly beautiful, is sprawling Lake Como full of dreamy vistas and wonderful gardens. As a very rough guide, two-bedroom apartments near these two heavyweight northern lakes start at about €170,000, and two-bedroom houses around €250,000. As you might expect, prices drop steadily the further from the waterside you go.
But what about some of the lesser-visited northern lakes? These are definitely worth your attention, especially if you’re looking for fewer crowds and lower prices. Let’s look at just three such places: Lake Maggiore, Lake Iseo and Lake Orta. Lake Maggiore, as its name might suggest, is no tiny body of water and nor is it unacquainted with tourism. A stately place with an old-fashioned grandeur, Lake Maggiore’s chief resort-town Stresa has been attracting visitors for more than a century. Prices can be steep in Stresa, but elsewhere on the lake you can find some good value for money. Lake Maggiore is especially good for period villas, many of which have been converted into reasonably-priced apartments.
Set halfway between Lake Como and Lake Garda, with Bergamo and Brescia its nearest cities, little Lake Iseo is perhaps just a third the size of its more famous neighbouring lakes. Quieter and much less busy than either, it also contains Italy’s largest lake-island, Monte Isola. A shortage of rental accommodation on this lovely lake means good prospects for the right property. There are plenty of tasteful new-build complexes with pools available, plus houses and villas. Two- and three-bed apartments in luxury complexes can cost just €150,000, and one-beds €125,000.
Even smaller in size is gem-like little Lake Orta, which lies a few miles west of Lake Maggiore. Pretty buildings and lovely views across to opposite shorelines are the order of the day here. There’s a very wide range of property prices, with one-bedroom apartments starting at about €80,000 and small houses at about €100,000. Country houses to restore in the area around the lake, meanwhile, can go for as little as €60,000.
Now that you know that there’s much more to Italy’s northern lakes than just Lake Garda and Lake Como, perhaps you should investigate some of the other wonderful options available to you. Lake Varese, Lake Idro, Lake Lugan. As always, Gate-Away.com is the perfect place to begin your property search. Happy hunting!
