Mantua, splendid city in the Region of Lombardy, hosts the rather evocative Palazzo Te, one of the most singularly intriguing palazzos realized Lake Maggiore is one of the most beautiful Italian lakes and has enchanted the great Italian and foreign artists who have stayed here. It is believed to be the largest of the pre-Alpine lakes, hence the name "Maggiore", it is of glacial origin and its banks are in Lombardy , Piedmont and Switzerland.
Surrounded by mountains and hills that shelter it from the cold northern winds, the lake has the Ticino River among its tributaries, a historic water route connecting the Po Valley to Central Europe. The islands The 11 islands, of which 8 are in Piedmont and 1 in Lombardy, are among the many beauties of this lake. The three rocks called Castles of Cannero with the remains of the Fortezza Vitaliana sought by Count Ludovico Borromeo are also interesting. Do not miss the island of La Malghera and the isle of Partegora and the beautiful isle of St.
Giovanni in front of Verbania, where Arturo Toscanini lived for a long time in the seventeenth century Palazzo Borromeo. Castles and Villas Beautiful villas and imposing fortresses and castles are located around the lake and its islands and bear witness to the history and culture enriching the charm of this place: the Castello Visconteo of Locarno , the Rocca of Arona and the Rocca Borromea Angera which now houses a doll's museum.
Botanical gardens, parks and nature reserves Nature lovers will find Lake Maggiore the ideal place to spend their holidays thanks to the many botanical gardens, including Villa Taranto with more than a thousand plants, Alpinia extending over 40, sq. Sport Lake Maggiore is a natural paradise for sports lovers. Eremo di Sta. Caterina del Sasso. The best views of the beautiful 13th-century hermitage and church dedicated to St.
Catharine are as you approach from the lake. From this vantage, you can fully appreciate how the three buildings are carved into a narrow terrace in the steep cliff. The hermitage was founded by a merchant who was shipwrecked in a storm and took refuge in a cave. In thanksgiving for being saved he vowed a hermitage to St. Catherine, and in built a tiny church. The oldest of the buildings you see today date from a century later, when it was home to Augustinian monks, and from the 14th and 15th centuries.
The 14th-century bell tower drops straight into the lake. If you arrive by boat, prepare to climb the 80 steps to the hermitage, and be careful to take an early boat that allows you time to see it before the entire complex closes, from noon until 2pm. If you arrive by car, you can avoid the steps down to the hermitage and back by riding an elevator which also closes for midday.
The hermitage is south of Laveno, a town that's worth a stop to ride the Funivia , an unusual bucket gondola, to within meters of the summit of 1,meter Sasso del Ferro. Not far west of Laveno is the Villa della Porta Bozzolo , an aristocratic home dating from the s. Along with its sumptuous interior and original furnishings, the villa is set against a hillside of terraced gardens, with fountains and frescoed out buildings.
Isola dei Pescatori. Unlike the other two Borromean Islands, Isola dei Pescatori has no grand palace, villa, or gardens. Instead, it is a simple fishing village of homes built along its highest point, their doorways facing inward along a narrow street so spring and autumn high lake waters won't flood them. About 50 year-round residents come and go by boat, and some families still make their living by fishing.
It's a pleasant and atmospheric place to wander, and its few restaurants specialize in lake fish. Be there for lunch or ask which of these provides free boat service from the mainland if you'd like to return in the evening to dine on the terrace by sunset.
Rocca d'Angera. Rocca d'Angera, the Borromeo castle overlooking the lake at Angera, is a medieval fortified stronghold whose structure has been preserved almost intact. The castle was originally built by the Visconti family, rulers of Milan from to , and frescoes in the Sala della Giustizia show Ottone Visconti's victory over Napo Torriani in Inside is one of Europe's best collections of dolls and children's toys, with 12 rooms displaying more than 1, dolls, toys, board games, and children's books.
Dolls represent all periods of history and are made from every imaginable material, from wax to plastic. A beautiful medieval garden has been recreated from information in original manuscripts. On the west side of Lake Maggiore, south of its western arm, the chic little town of Stresa looks onto the Borromean Islands.
Stresa is the largest resort town on the Italian part of the lake and tends to cater to a moneyed crowd with its smart shops, upscale restaurants, and posh hotels.
The lakeside promenade, where much of tourist life centers, offers beautiful views across to the islands. If you're looking for the best places to go shopping in Stresa, look in the streets off Piazza Giocomo Matteotti, near the tourist information office.
Walkers looking for something more challenging than promenading along the lakeshore can hike the six-mile Chestnut Trail Sentiero delle Castagne through shady chestnut groves from Stresa to Belgirate. You can return to Stresa by bus or boat; download a trail map from the Visit Stresa website. Villa Pallavicino. From its dramatic entrance view of cypress trees carved into a row of arches, Villa Pallavicino is filled with surprises.
A combination of botanical garden and zoo, the park is beautifully landscaped into a natural amphitheater surrounding a villa. Magnolia trees; sequoia; an impressive Lebanon cedar; and manicured lawns bordered by rhododendrons, camellias, and azaleas cover the grounds. Greenhouses hold more exotic species. In the natural environment, animals appear to be roaming free, and you can encounter llamas, zebra, Tibetan goats, flamingos, swans, and colorful parrots — more than 40 different species — as you wander through the park.
This variety of exotic animals makes this one of the most popular things to do for families with young children. On the west shore of Lake Maggiore, almost to the Swiss border, Cannobio sits on a small plateau at the mouth of the Valle Cannobina.
Its old town has picturesque narrow streets and a Palazzo della Ragione town hall built in Follow the valley, Valle Cannobina , to find the Orido Sant'Anna, a deep gorge that's spanned by a stone arch bridge. You can also walk there on a trail from Cannobio. A pretty chapel overlooks the bridge, and the pool below is a popular if cold spot for swimming. It is the second largest lake in Italy and the largest in southern Switzerland.
The lake and its shoreline are divided between the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy and the Swiss canton of Ticino. The climate is mild in both summer and winter, producing Mediterranean vegetation, with many gardens growing rare and exotic plants. Travel Guide. Five Italian Gardens Inspired by Women. Travel with Kids. Capodanno Fireworks.
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