Lake Maggiore, or Lago Verbàno, is a large lake located on the south side of the Alps and is both the second largest lake in Italy and the largest in southern Switzerland. Divided between the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy and the Swiss canton of Ticino, it is a popular holiday area and a beyond scenic destination that is bound to take your breath away. It is often considered the most beautiful lake in Italy and is known locally as “Verbena” for the flowers that grow abundantly at its shores. The towns that skirt the lake, meanwhile, are no less lovely and are picturesque places full of wonderful food, charming buildings, boutiques and a cosmopolitan atmosphere. If you are looking for a holiday that combines an Alpine getaway with lakeside pursuits, that would be wonderful no matter what time of the year you choose to visit and that offers stunning surroundings, look no further. Just find a luxury villa in Lombardy or a luxury villa in Piedmont and begin exploring the incredible Lake Maggiore.
Stresa, the most beautiful of the towns around Maggiore, is nestled right under the majestic peak of Mottarone. Hemingway was a famous fan and even set part of his A Farewell to Arms in the town. It's easy to see why one would fall in love with this charming town: the Belle Epoque architecture, the views of the incredible sunsets that take place across the lake, cheaper Murano glass, cultured atmosphere and prevailing sense of elegance leftover from times gone by. The town of Baveno, meanwhile, is Stresa’s lesser-known and less busy counterpoint yet still offers an abundance of the same stunning architecture, elegant boutiques, delicious delights, lovely restaurants and cafes and the same cosmopolitan lifestyle.
Beautiful villas and imposing fortresses and castles dot the lake and its islands and the entire area is steeped in historical and cultural heritage. Particular highlights include the Castello Visconteo of Locarno, the Rocca of Arona, the Rocca Borromea Angera (which is now home to a doll's museum), Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Madre and Isola Bella, the eighteenth-century Villa Ponti in Arona and Villa Pallavicini.
Beautiful villas and imposing fortresses and castles dot the lake and its islands and the entire area is steeped in historical and cultural heritage. Particular highlights include the Castello Visconteo of Locarno, the Rocca of Arona, the Rocca Borromea Angera (which is now home to a doll's museum), Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Madre and Isola Bella, the eighteenth-century Villa Ponti in Arona and Villa Pallavicini.
There are also many natural reserves in the area such as the National Park of Val Grande and the Natural Park of the Ticino Valley, a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
If you are less interested in the history and culture of the area and are more interested in the outdoor pursuits that such a location can offer, you will find no shortage of things to do. The lake is a paradise for sports lovers and there is a wide range of things to enjoy such as hiking, biking, golf, horseback riding, sailing, canoeing, yachting, water skiing and scuba diving activities.
For those looking for a holiday absolutely full of things to see and do, Lake Maggiore really is the perfect place to choose in Italy.
If you are less interested in the history and culture of the area and are more interested in the outdoor pursuits that such a location can offer, you will find no shortage of things to do. The lake is a paradise for sports lovers and there is a wide range of things to enjoy such as hiking, biking, golf, horseback riding, sailing, canoeing, yachting, water skiing and scuba diving activities.
For those looking for a holiday absolutely full of things to see and do, Lake Maggiore really is the perfect place to choose in Italy.
