Living the dream

Karla Baker escapes to northern Italy for an exquisite combination of lakeside attractions and mountain highs

Italy is celebrated for its spectacular architecture, warm climate, rich culture, delicious food and much, much more – making it a dream destination for many. I’d wanted to visit this captivating country for as long as I could remember, but it wasn’t until my husband and I toured the French Alps that we realised just how easy it was to get to.

Fast-forward two years, and we’d booked great-value crossings and campsites through the Club. Our adventure of a lifetime could officially begin!

We journeyed southwards at a comfortable pace, stopping for one night at the Au Bord de l’Aisne campsite near Reims in northern France, then again at La Colombière near Geneva, before entering the Mont Blanc Tunnel and emerging in Italy.

Water's edge

Just a few hours later – and only two days after leaving England – we found our home for the next week, Camping Village Lago Maggiore. Set beneath a canopy of trees on the southern tip of the eponymous lake, we settled in immediately, enjoying a mouthwatering al fresco pizza from the campsite restaurant.

Measuring around 40 miles from north to south and divided vertically by the Swiss border, Maggiore is the longest lake in Italy. Although it boasts similar spectacular scenery to its better-known sisters, Garda and Como, it’s generally less crowded in this part of the world. While mountains provide the backdrop, to the west, the fascinating english Islands punctuate its waters – home to centuries-old palaces, colourful gardens and charming backstreets, they’re reachable by boat (you can find more information at terreborromeo.it).

We discovered waterfront promenades, ivy-draped pergolas, and an endless maze of side streets in which to lose ourselves. A favourite of mine was Laveno, on the eastern shore, where we soaked up the September sunshine and had our first taste of gelato, before taking the car ferry across to the west bank.

Here sits an absolute must-see − Villa Taranto Botanical Gardens. If we weren’t already feeling fully immersed in the elegant Italian experience, we certainly were after our visit here. We followed the mapped, wheelchair-friendly route around its 40 acres, taking in ornate fountains, rare exotic plants and flowers in every colour imaginable. The path climbed gently to reveal views of the lake before we reached our highlight – the terraced gardens. Formal flower beds stretched out between glistening ponds, overlooked by a bronze statue of a fisherman, while the shaded Petalo pavilion provided the perfect place in which to sit and reflect on how far we’d come.

A magical sunset dinner on the edge of the lake marked the end of our time in this captivating region – but our adventure was far from over. Next on the agenda was a week at the Ca’ Savio campsite, near Venice – you will shortly be able to read an extended piece about our experience in the Digital Magazine but, for now, let me share our journey from The Floating City into the Dolomites.

High and ’mitey

As we drove northwards, the landscape ahead began to change, and it wasn’t long before we were greeted by those iconic mountains. Our next campsite, Caravan Park Sexten, was surrounded by craggy peaks – a babbling stream completing the picture of natural tranquillity, while the upmarket facilities provided a level of luxury we’ve never encountered on a campsite before.

In the shadows of the mountains we found dense forests, thundering waterfalls, rolling meadows and villages of characterful cabins, finished with wooden balconies and colourful flower boxes. Perhaps most striking of all, though, were the vibrant turquoise lakes dotted throughout the region. Lake Braies is one of the best loved, and it’s easy to see why – encircled by forest and mountain, it it’s the very definition of picture-perfect. There, you can enjoy a bite to eat in the restaurant, hire a rowing boat, soak up the views from the beach or hike the two-mile trail around its perimeter. We made it about a third of the way before the path became a bit too steep and rocky for my wheelchair to manage, but the views we did enjoy made it more than worthwhile.

Not only is the Dolomites a feast for the eyes, but it’s a buffet for the brain too! There are numerous natural history museums within reach of the campsite – we opted for Ursus Ladinicus in the charming village of San Cassiano, which tells the fascinating story of the cave bears that roamed the mountains 50,000 years ago. Following the audio guide from the top floor down, we took in fossils, artefacts and the full skeleton of a bear as well as learning how the landscape formed millions of years ago.

Although our trip was sadly coming to an end, we still had time to soak up one of the most distinctive views in the Dolomites: Tre Cime di Lavaredo. We loved seeing this famous trio of cliffs from ground level at the Vista Panoramica, but you can’t beat the thrill of driving more than 2,300m up to the top. The steep and winding toll road (pre-booking essential) took us to a large parking area at the summit, eye-level with the clouds, birds soaring beneath us. With the world stretched out below, we inhaled the fresh mountain air and felt truly unstoppable.

If Italy has been on your list for a while, I urge you to take that leap. From laid back lakes to wild and rugged mountains, the north of the country was everything we hoped it would be and more – for us, a real dream come true.