EXCURSIONS on LAKE MAGGIORE
Lake Maggiore an unforgettable travel between Lombardy and Piedmont, travels through time and the architectural and historical beauties of Lake Maggiore, between Lombardy, Piedmont and Switzerland.
We are few steps from lake and from the centre of Baveno the “Hotel residence” Al Campanile want to show you this itinerary. We are in Baveno, in the heart of Lake Maggiore, just few steps from the touristic port where the boats leave to go and visit the Borromean Islands.
From Baveno you reach different destinations like Laveno, Verbania, Eremo of Santa Caterina and many other fantastic places to discover. We want to introduce you at many pearls of Lake Maggiore, so you can take ideas to discover hidden corners of this magnificent territory.
Lake Maggiore a pearl of beauties
Lake Maggiore is one of the most beautiful Italian lakes which has charmed great Italian and foreign artists who stayed. It is considered the largest lake of Prealps, from this reason it takes the name “Maggiore”, it has a glacial origin and its banks are in Lombardy, Piedmont and Switzerland.
The lake is surrounded by mountains and hills which repair it from cold north winds, it has an important confluent Ticino which has signed historic street of water connecting the Po valley with the centre Europe.
Magic and luxuriant islands
Between the beauties of this lake there are its islands, which are eleven (eight in Piedmont and one in Lombardy).
Between Stresa and Verbania the archipelago of Borromean Islands is worth visiting and it includes Isola Madre, Isola Bella and Isola Pescatori
Worth mentioning are also the three rocks named Castles of Cannero with the rests of Rocca Vitaliana, built by the count Lodovico Borromeo.
Not to lose are the island of Malghera, the Island Partegora and the beautiful Island of San Giovanni in front of Verbania, where Arturo Toscanini lived in the ‘600.
History and Culture
Splendid villas and magnificent fortresses and castles are around the lake and its islands which testify the history and culture enriching with fascinate. Starting from Castello Visconteo of Locarno, Rocca of Arona and Rocca Borromea of Angera which hosts a museum of dolls. Between villas worth visiting are the Borromean Palaces of Isola Madre and Isola Bella, the ‘700 Villa Ponti of Arona and Villa Treves in Belgirate which saw as its guest Gabriele D’Annunzio and Giovanni Verga. In Stresa there are Villa Ducale and Villa Pallavicino with the zoological park, Verbania hosts many splendid villas like Villa Giulia, Villa Taranto and Villa San Remigo. Lake Maggiore an idea of travel between Lombardy and Piedmont.
Highest waterfalls and green woodlands
Discover botanic gardens, parks and nature reserves of Lake Maggiore Nature lovers will find Lake Maggiore as the ideal place to spend their holidays thanks to the exigence of many botanic gardens like the botanic garden of Villa Taranto with more than one thousand plants. The botanic garden of Alpinia of 40000 Sq m, the park of Camelia in Locarno and the gardens on the islands. Other nature reserves are the National Park of Val Grande and the natural park of Valle Ticino, reserve of the biosphere UNESCO.
Artistic patrimony without time
One of the biggest statues of the world is the statue of S. Carlo Borromeo in Arona. It is more than 35 metres high. In Carciano you can take the cable way to reach the botanic garden of Alpinia and also the top of Mottarone, a skiing station. Lake Maggiore an idea of travel between Lombardy and Piedmont dating back to the history of Christian origins. It is also a spiritual place and in Leggiuno there is Eremo of San Caterina del Sasso, accessible with a perron and along the slopes of Monte Carciago there is Sacro Monte of Ghiffa, patrimony of Unesco. In Orsellina you can visit Santuario of Madonna del Sasso, which dates back to the late ‘400.
Experiences no limits
For the sports lovers Lake Maggiore represents a natural paradise. Around the lake it is possible to do trekking, mountain bike, play golf and riding. It is surrounded by natural landscapes of rare beauty. The waters of lake are the ideal place to go sailing, to do canoeing, yachting, water ski and underwater activities. On the banks of the lake, in the Piedmontese zone there are many structures which offer different courses for sportsman of every level.
