In my opinion, Northern Italy is all unusually good, but the strast with the Islands belonging to her territory is Borromeo - amazingly gorgeous! It happened there several times at different times of the year, passing and purposefully, no visit disappointed. I want to tell about the town in the ripping of the holiday season - July.
First of all, I would call the main attractions to the inhabitants, not such noisy and emotional as in the south of Italy, and more calm and responsible. The immediate proximity of the Schwarry apparently diluted with the Kiphogo Italian Blood. And certainly enriched the people with new qualities. The town of Rybatsky, is located on the shore of Lago Maggiore, is surrounded by the picturesque alpine hills, which also create a special microclimate. For example, exile here in January I bought a summer strawberries from the street trader collected, grown from them.
Straight streets are almost only pedestrian (or cycling), there are few cars there, and narrow winding forwards do not allow maneuvering opportunities. All roads are stone and quite hilly, but it's all smoothly, it is not difficult to walk, but even nice. Over your head, on the extended ropes stretched between houses, the style of laundry will dry. In the same place, fishing networks are dried down on the walls (probably also for drying). Coloring unforgettable. The tiny pastry shop is traded by baking their own preparation, such a hot cookie with almond is no longer possible to try. And although the confectionery cafe services are not provided, the owners will hospitably treat you a cup of coffee, if you wanted to eat their confectionery sizes immediately.
Stremba is a starting point, with a small berth whose boats sail to all islands. Go regularly as minibuses every 15 minutes.
Bella Island is a model of paradise embodied on the ground. It is terrified gardens with smooth bends of pedestrian roads, rare plants and walling on their freedom, not afraid of people, rare white peacocks.
The island of Pesbatori is an oasis of Mediterranean cuisine. Its name is translated like fishing. If you are an amateur dishes from the freshest fish, caught right there, then you will have to sail on it three times a day. All restaurants on it have indoors and open street terraces. Kitchen delicious to breathtomasses. And the staff is not annoying and friendly.
Madre Island is the largest of all the islands of Lame Lago Maggiore, on which one of the palaces of Borromeo and ancient and unique botanical garden (with forever green trees).
As for swimming, it is certainly present there. Water is purest, fresh, as it is a lake. But for a couple of degrees colder marine. In July, when the temperature was for 40, this is a huge plus. Swimming really refreshes and fills forces. This is the highest class.