This collection of images comes from my first and so far, only visit to Italy, a journey that unfolded in the heart of January. I had long imagined the beauty of the Italian lakes, but nothing could have prepared me for the sheer majesty of Lake Como and Lake Garda in winter. The season cast an almost cinematic mood over everything, brooding skies, frost-laced trees, and a stillness so profound it felt like time had paused. The air was crisp, the mountains loomed impossibly high, their snow-capped peaks disappearing into veils of mist, and the water, dark and glassy, mirrored the grandeur of the landscape. With every turn, I was struck by a new scene, solitary boats rocking on silent harbors, grand villas standing timeless against the cold, and winding roads that led to sleepy villages nestled between lake and peak. It was a side of Italy I hadn’t expected, raw and untamed, yet overwhelmingly beautiful.

There was something epic about the scale of it all, the way nature dominated the scenery, making even the most historic towns feel like tiny outposts in a vast, winter wilderness. The light was ever-changing, at times moody and dramatic, at others soft and golden as the sun broke through heavy clouds. I found myself captivated by the contrasts: the delicate frost on olive trees against the deep blue of the lakes, the warmth of ochre-colored buildings standing resilient under cold gray skies. Every moment felt like a scene from a dream, a place both wild and peaceful, where winter had woven itself into every reflection and shadow. Though my time there was brief, it left a lasting impression, one that lingers in these photographs, capturing the Italian lakes as I saw them in that single, unforgettable winter journey.