The Landscape
The Maggiore Lake Area is an internationally renowned holiday destination. While the gorgeous landscape is a sight in itself, the area also offers a variety of activities which can cater for different types of holiday. What can be promised is a full immersion in nature.
The lakes and their beautiful islands, the Monte Rosa with its neighbouring peaks and the Parco Nazionale della Val Grande; the largest wild area in Italy, with a vast range of trekking paths suitable for everyone, as well as the villas and lake towns with their historical sites to visit, are only a few of the attractions near by. Furthermore, Milan and its excellent shopping district, Varese, Como, Novara, as well as the neighbouring Switzerland are no more than an hour away.
At the Maggiore Lake you can really create the holiday you need by chosing among the many activities which range from relaxing on the beach and enjoying local cuisine to sightseeing and sporting excursions, sailing, swimming, horse riding, golf, tennis, trekking, etc.
Maggiore Lake and its beautiful Borromee islands to visit taking the boat and admairing the costs from the water. Verbania and its old, narrow streets of shopping, the Saturday colorurful Food Market, the Museums, the lake shore to sunbath and swim. The other pictoresque lake towns; Arona, Meina, Lesa, Belgirate, Stresa, Baveno, Ghiffa, Oggebbio, Cannobio and the little villages on the hills at their back
Villa Taranto is a very well known and special botanical garden that presents a high number of rare plants and flowers. being a magical place for a lovely walk, though. It is such a part of the Verbania town and it worth a visit.
Villa San Remigio, built on the lovely area of Castagnola in Verbania, is an example of the classical Villas scattered all around the Maggiore Lake District, which often where home or hosted famous Italian and international writers and intellectuals.
Orta Lake lies to the West side of Maggiore Lake. It has a special fascination that brought some well known international writers to speak about it in their books. Between Maggiore Lake and Orta Lake you can pass by the Mergozzo Lake; just something different from the others
Val Grande is the largest wilderness area in Italy, but also an outdoor museum of the ancient civilization of the Alps. The abandonment of the alpine Summer pastures and of the deforestation practice led to the return to wilderness: nature becomes the mistress once again. The richness and variety of the vegetation represent one of the greatest attractions of the area,. A Park with many secrets: timid animals, steep deep valleys, crystal-clear waters in gorges
Macugnaga lies at the base of Monte Rosa. It is one of the few Walser villages in Piedmont region (villages found by German people coming over the Alps, which have mantained the ancient culture and language). The hights of the mountains give a special emotion to the turist
The Vigezzo Valley lies in the North-West of the Ossola area of Piedmont and it continues into Switzerland. Well-known as the Painters’ Valley, Val Vigezzo has been home to many artists and has inspired landscape and portrait painters who over the years have had a strong impact on the art and culture of this area. The Painting School in Santa Maria Maggiore was started in the 19th century as a unique school of mountain painting.
An Alpine railway, the Vigezzina passes through wonderful landscapes of woods, wild mountains, rivers and waterfalls along a route of 52 kilometres including 83 bridges and 31 tunnels. Completely immersed in the nature, this route between Italy and Switzerland offers passengers the chance to have a close look at some breath-taking scenery. From Domossola, the Val Vigezzo, the blue train crosses the impressive Swiss territory of beech woods, rivers and jagged mountains to reach Locarno.