Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-30
Italian Lakes
Are Rivals of
Olden Cities
Como's Charm Draws
Many Americans on
European Trip.

n ELLAG1O. Italy. June 90
* With the exception of the
cities of Rome. Venice and
- Florence, the Italian lakes at
tract more visitors and are better
known to travellers tran any other
section Of Italy. Situated In q fine
mountain region and dotted with
fairy-like villas of white or paste,
colors, the lakes nave had their
praises sung since ancient times, SO
that today their fame Is known to
every one.
Practically every traveller to Italy
includes at least the lakes Of Como
and Maggiore in his itinerary, and
all who come once to see them long
to come again and spend a season
in the region. OF the three large
lakes, Como to Americans has more
of charm and loneliness. while Garda
is grand and majestic, Maggiore BEAU
tiful and quiet.
Life, 200. has an Old World charm
along these shores. The type of carts
drawn along the roads by splendid
white oxen have not changed in 1000
years. The people usually wear wood
en- clogs fastened merely across the
toes, and in these They climb the
steepest paths. On Sundays, how
ever, when girls wish 10 dress up for
church they initiate their American
sisters and wear leather shoes with
extremely high heels.
MULBERRY TREES are grown
A'A throughout this region to feed
silk worms. which are raised in every
village. Como, largest city on Lake
Como, is the center Of the Italian silk
industry and rivals Lyon in France
and Paterson, N. j.
The charm of Lake Como Is in its
colors. Fine villas. some white, some
yellow, some peach color, line its
shores; its terraces and gardens are
alive with flowers, and the green OF
vineyards and olive groves on its hill
sides is thrown into relief against the
darker green of stately cypress trees.
Although Bellagio with its fine view
along the three branches Of the lake
is the most famed of the cities on
Lake Como, the western shore is more
favored by travellers during the Sum-
mer months. There. near Cadenabbia,
is Villa Carlotta with It's famous gar
dens. Thousands of varieties of plants
and shrubs, taken from every corner
of the world, grow on its terraces, and
the building itself houses q fine COL
lection of sculpture.
The Lake of Maggiore lies partly
in Switzerland. but its finest scenery
is in its central part. where 1t widens
out into the Bay of Pallanza. On the
western shore is StreSsa. international
diplomatic meeting place this Spring
and a gay resort of attractive villas
and hotels. AS the sunshine plays
over its white villas and brilliant
flowers, this city gives one an enchant-
ing impression of gaiety.
In Maggiore are the Borromean
Islands. their clusters of white houses
coming down to the waters edge.
Although the terraced gardens of Isola
Bella are rather artificial, the islands.
seen from the shore. are one of the
impressive scenic attractions Of all
Europe.
CARDA is the least visited Of the
" large lakes, and yet it has some
Of the finest scenery in this part of
Italy. At the north, where it becomes
narrow, mountains tower over it as
they do over the fjords Of Norway
Excellent fruit is grown in this dis
trict, but under very difficult condi-
lions. The orchards are terraced and
the hillsides lined with cleaning white
pillars, which in Winter support a
covering to protect the lemon and
orange trees.
Before the war, Riva, one Of the
most important resorts here, was in
Austrian territory, and even today
Germans and Austrians make up the
ma jority Of travellers in this region.
The chief resort is Gardone, where
the poet Gabrielle dAnnun1o has a
villa.