If you are planning to visit Italy a beautiful destination is "Lago Maggiore" of course.An authentic diamond of nature,beautiful landscapes, art and history.Not so far from Milan,only 40 minutes by motorway you can reach the Southern town of the Lake,Arona in a very short time by motorway "Milano-Alessandria"direction "Gravellona Toce.."Lago Maggiore" called by Romans "Lacus Verbanus" is a large lake located on the south side of the Alps in the Northern Italy.It is the second largest lake of Italy and largest of southern Switzerland. It is the most westerly of the three great prealpine lakes (the others are Lake Como and Lake Garda) of Italy, it extends for about 70 km between Locarno (Swiss town of Canton Tessin) and Arona, with a breadth which varies from 3 to 5 km, except at the bay opening westward between Pallanza and Stresa, where this reaches 10 km.
There are several beautiful Villas and gardens,well known gardens are those of Isola Madre, Isola Bella (on the Borromean islands) and the famous "Villa Taranto" in Verbania, besides the Alpinia botanical garden above Stresa. The climate in this italian area is mild in both summer and winter, producing Mediterranean vegetation and exotic plants.Lake Maggiore is an authentic paradise and of course an unforgettable place to visit in Italy.
1ST DAY - ARONA - BELGIRATE- MEINA - STRESA
Start your tour from Arona.This town was settled from the 18th-13th centuries BC.Originally populated by Celts was later under Roman and Lombard under the families Torriani and Visconti.In the early 14th century the city became a free territory.After a relaxing walk on "Lungolago" where you can admire a fantastic view on Angera Castle and Alps you can visit The church of the "Collegiata della Natività di Maria Vergine" built around 1482 admiring great paintings of the life of San Carlo Borromeo by Cesare Nebbia.
Very important about Arona history is "La Rocca" ("The Castle") located in a park owned by the Borromeo family.The park destroyed by the Napoleon was the birthplace of St. Charles Borromeo.The park actually is open to the public and is a favourite of many locals; many animals are kept in semi-captivity in various areas.
Another important place to visit in Arona is "San Carlone".Located on the top of a hill this giant statue of Saint Charles Borromeo was commissioned by Cardinal Federico Borromeo and completed in 1698. At 35.10 m it was the largest bronze standing statue in the world,second only to the New York Statue of Liberty.It is said that the architects behind the Statue of Liberty consulted the blueprints of the San Carlone when laying out their own.Next to the statue are the 17th Century Basilica and the former Archbishop's Palace.
Take your time for your photos and a great view on the lake.Continue your itinerary on the lake admiring the beautiful panorama from Meina and Lesa two little villages on the lake until reaching Belgirate. Belgirate is a small town on the shores of the lake only 5 kms from Arona,very interesting a small Romanesque church (Church of St. Mary) dates to the 11th century and it is preceded by a 16th century portico with some frescoes by Bernardino Luini school.You can enjoy your lunch, tasting a typical "risotto with lavarello" (lavarello, it is a typical fish from the lake) or a mix fish fried with salad and seafood.
After your lunch continue towards Stresa.This town is the jewel of Lake Maggiore.For centuries Stresa has been a popular retreat for Europe's aristocrats such as the Duchess of Genoa Elizabeth of Sassonia,the Kings of Denmark and Norway,Winston Churchill,artists and writers such as,Charles Dickens, ,Stendhal,Alessandro Manzoni famous Milan writer and Ernest Hemingway who set part of his novel Farewell to Arms in the famous Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees.
Stresa has some beautiful Villas,one of them "Villa Pallavicino" with its huge park and gardends. The villa park has a considerable arboreal patrimony: oaks, beeches, planes, maples, and a group of Californian redwoods.In an area of the park there is an Italian garden with fish-ponds, and a very charming rose-garden.There is also a little zoo with animals from all over the world,not less important it is "Villa Ducale" built by the architect Bolongaro in 1770. In 1848 the Villa was bought by Italian philosopher Antonio Rosmini.You can enjoy a splendid walk on the Stresa Lake promenade admiring enchanting and charming view on the lake and on the Alps.
2ND DAY - STRESA WITH ISOLE BORROMEE (CRUISE ON THE LAKE) ISOLA MADRE - ISOLA BELLA - ISOLA PESCATORI
After your breakfast, it is the day to enjoy a magnificent cruise of "Isole Borromee" the magnificent Borromean Islands. Borromean Islands are an unmissable Lake Maggiore tourist attractions,containing beautiful gardens and small settlements with restaurants and shops.Take the ferry boat from the "Imbarcadero Stresa",the Stresa Harbour, generally the cruise departure is at 11.00 a.m.
"Isola Bella"is an authentic diamond,beauty and charm surround this magnificent island in the middle of Borromeo Gulf..Famous English writer Dickens said about Isola Bella "As amazing and can be and is the Isola Bella, it still is beautiful. "On this island In 1632,Count Vitaliano Borromeo began the construction of the monumental Baroque palace and the majestic and scenic gardens of Island Bella lies just off Stresa.In addition to a part of the former fishermen’s village you can find the famous Mansion Borromeo,this Baroque Palace mentioned before noble house of Borromeo,who were the residence of Cardenal Borromeo on Lake Maggiore.Inside it it is possible to admire 25 richly decorated rooms: everywhere are stuccoes, statues, pictures, tapestries and Murano chandeliers. The rooms named "Grottoes" and they are set with pebbles.From the Palace you can reach the terraced garden, where among statues and azaleas.Besides from the upper terrace you can have a wonderful view of the Lake,the Gulf Borromeo and the town of Stresa.Isola Bella is an authentic jewel of art and nature very difficult to forget.
Continuing your cruise to the smaller Island Borromeo Archipelago, "Isola Pescatori",(The Fishermen’s island) located to the north of Island Bella,it was inhabited by simple fishermen and In the small village you can walk along old houses with wooden balconies and granite portals.It is a very small island but really very charming and captivating.You can visit the parish church with portal and columns of pink granite and the silver bust of St. Charles Borromeo. Fantastic view to the Islands Bella and Madre, Mount Mottarone and Baveno Peninsula.You will have time to have lunch and to visit in the island (about 1 hour and 45 minutes) before to continue to "Isola Madre".
Island Madre is the biggest island of "Lago Maggiore" and it is situated in the middle of the Gulf Borromeo,the whole island is private and the importance of this island comes from the botanical Garden where from the beginning of the 19th century on have been cultivated exotic species coming from all over the world.There is in this wonderful garden a rich collection of 150 species of Camellia with peacocks and pheasants wander among Azalea and Rhododendron bushes,cypresses and tea-plants.
The Villa also houses,a beautiful aristocratic mansion which was built beginning from the end of the 16th century and is considered the first of the villas built on the lake.The Palace in comparision with that on Island Bella it looks simple but very charming.Inside there are actually important collections of Lombard paintings of the 17th century,marionette theatres, and a rich collection of dolls.You will have aprox 2 hours to visit the island and you will enjoy so much the beauty and the charme of Isola Madre.Coming back to Stresa you will admire the fantastic view of the Isola Bella and the Stresa lake coast It is time in Stresa for a great cappuccino or for an excellent gelato in the lungolago, enjoy and relax yourself after this marvellous lake cruise.
3RD DAY- STRESA -BAVENO - PALLANZA- VILLA TARANTO -STRESA
Starting your day with a stop in Baveno,the town it is located on the west shore of lake with a great view on the Borromean Islands.The town originally populated by Celts, was occupied later by the Lepontii, a tribe from "Liguria" before the Roman occupation.Baveno is also recognised as being a famous health- thermal resort. Among its monuments two important structures: the "Parrocchiale of St. Gervasio and St. Protaso"dated 13th centuries with Romanesque bell and an octagonal baptistery.Continue your tour until Pallanza where you will admire the beautiful Villa Taranto.
Villa Taranto is situated on the north eastern side of the verdant Castagnola promontory.Among terraces and waterfalls there is a beautiful selection of plants in a botanical garden.This garden has a surface of 20 hectares with et among 7 km of paths and has a huge importance for botany thanks to the 20,000 species and varieties that are cultivated here.Most gardens are open to visitors from March to October.Taking advantage of the ornamental potential of each species the conceiver of the garden,the Scottish Captain Neil McEacharn transformed it into a natural looking park.He devoted all his life to go in for the arts and botany and creating this wonderful garden.The blooming of Azaleas and Rhododendron in spring is really spectacular ,in summer you can admire the giant water-lilies of the Amazonian river,in autumn 300 types of dahlias.
If you decide to continue towards the northern lake part you can cross picturesque little towns as Cannero Riviera and Cannobio coming until Switzerland border and visiting the nearest Locarno and Ascona or coming back in the early afternoon to enjoy Stresa for shopping or relax.You can buy a large variety of products in Stresa,very famous it is the perfumery shop Acqua di Stresa (Stresa Water) is the name of the perfumer but also of a line of perfumes sold in this town of Lake Maggiore.Contrary to what it seems, this is not an old traditional product. In fact it all started in 2002 with a scent based on osmanthus flower. Afterwards it was followed by other fragrances and soaps,all based mainly on flowers that grow in this area.
"Margheritine di Stresa" are a local type of cookies,or you can also buy fine wine, you are in the Piedimont Region,a noble area producing fine wines,so Barolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Asti Spumante and many others. For your dinner..you can finish your tour in an elegant restaurant Simplon or Charleston, Regina Palace, Il Borromeo or I Mori all great restaurants with "haute cuisine" to have a unforgettable bye bye Lake Maggiore dinner.Buona serata a Stresa.
4TH DAY - STRESA - YOUR TOWN
After your breakfast departure to the Milan Malpensa Airport (50 minutes aprox driving) with beautiful and unforgettable memories of this beautiful and shining Italian destination called Lake Maggiore
Maggiore wonderful Italian diamond.
Francesco Mari
www.lagomaggiore.net
.www.illagomaggiore.com
www.tuttolagomaggiore.com
www.lagomaggiore-nu.nl
www.verbania-turismo.it
www.visitstresa.com
www.stresa.com
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