Verbano and Vergante

<< Piedmont

The western shore of Lake Maggiore, or Verbano, is located in Piedmont, between the provinces of Verbano-Cusio–Ossola and Novara. This area includes several beautiful towns located along the shores of the lake, including the provincial capital Verbania, and other notable tourist destinations such as Stresa. The southern part of this region, between Stresa and Arona, is also known as Vergante.

Verbania

Verbania is the capital of the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in Piedmont, and it is located along the shores of Lake Maggiore. The city was born in 1939 with the merger of the towns of Intra and Pallanza. Both towns emerged during the Middle Ages, becoming relevant regional centers. Since the 19th century, the area industrialized and became a tourist destination thanks to its position.

Botanical Gardens of Villa Taranto

Villa Taranto is a 19th-century villa located near the shores of Lake Maggiore between Pallanza and Intra in Verbania. Its botanical gardens (Giardini Botanici di Villa Taranto), located on the side of a hill, feature a rich collection of thousands of plant and tree species from all over the world, and offer a wonderful view over Lake Maggiore. The gardens also include various greenhouses, a herbarium, and other attractions and decorations.

Verbania Promenade

The promenade of Verbania, which runs along the shores of Lake Maggiore offers a great view on the lake and various attractions, especially in Pallanza. Among these are the decorated Cadorna Mausoleum, erected in the 1930s, and the gardens of the Neoclassical Villa Giulia. Just off the coast near Pallanza is the beautiful tiny island known as Isolino di San Giovanni. A smaller section of the promenade is located along the coast in Intra.

Church of Madonna di Campagna

The Church of Madonna di Campagna is a 16th-century Renaissance church located in Verbania. The building was erected to replace a previous Romanesque church, of which only the bell tower now remains. The church features various Renaissance frescoes, decorations, and other artworks.

Museo del Paesaggio

Museo del Paesaggio is an art and archaeology museum in Verbania. Its collection includes numerous sculptures, plaster casts, frescoes, and paintings spanning a period between the 15th and 20th century. The archaeological section of the museum is located in Ornavasso.

Stresa

Stresa is a town located on the shores of Lake Maggiore in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. A small fishing center since the Middle Ages, it has grown to become one of the main tourist destinations of the area, known for its beauty. Stresa is also famous for the Borromean Islands, a group of three small islands located off the coast of the town in Lake Maggiore.

✪ Isola Bella

Isola Bella (“Beautiful Island”) is one of the Borromean Islands, the closest one to Stresa. Most of the island is occupied by Palazzo Borromeo, a 17th-century palace and museum hosting numerous richly decorated halls filled with many paintings, tapestries, and other artworks. The palace also includes a lush garden adorned with statues and fountains. The most notable attraction of the park is an elaborate exedra called Teatro Massimo.

Isola dei Pescatori

Also known as: Isola Superiore

Isola dei Pescatori (“Fishermen’s Island”) is the only one of the Borromean Islands that is inhabited year round. The island is occupied by a small fishing village with many traditional houses, and it features a medieval church hosting a few ancient artworks.

Isola Madre

Isola Madre (“Mother Island”) is the largest of the Borromean Islands. It hosts a small church and a decorated 16th-century palace with various adorned halls. The palace is joined by a large botanical garden that covers almost the entire island and houses a large variety of plant species.

Alpinia Botanical Garden

The Alpinia Botanical Garden (Giardino Botanico Alpinia) is a botanical garden located on the slopes of the Mottarone mountain overlooking Stresa. The garden features numerous species of alpine plants from all over the world, and it offers a breathtaking view over Lake Maggiore.

Ghiffa

Ghiffa is a small town located on the shores of Lake Maggiore north of Verbania, in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. It is best known for hosting one of the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy.

Sacro Monte di Ghiffa

The Sacro Monte di Ghiffa is one of the Sacri Monti, a series of religious sites built on top of hills and mountains in Piedmont and Lombardy. The sanctuary is located on a hill overlooking Ghiffa with a great view over Lake Maggiore. Erected starting in the 16th century, it includes various chapels adorned with Baroque frescoes and sculptures.

Cannobio

Cannobio is a small town located on the shores of Lake Maggiore in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, near the border with Switzerland. A town of ancient origins, it was for centuries an important trading center thanks to its position. Now it is a popular tourist destination.

Cannero Castles

The Cannero Castles (Castelli di Cannero) are a group of tiny islets in Lake Maggiore, located near Cannero Riviera but forming part of the municipality of Cannobio. They are occupied by the ruins of an ancient fortification, erected during the 16th century and later abandoned.

Arona

Arona is a town located on the shores of Lake Maggiore in the Province of Novara. The town emerged during the Middle Ages and it was contested between local powers for a long time. Ruled for centuries by Milan and later the House of Savoy, Arona became an important tourist destination in the late 19th century.

Colossus of San Carlo Borromeo

Also known as: Sancarlone

The Colossus of San Carlo Borromeo (Colosso di San Carlo Borromeo) is a massive statue of Saint Charles Borromeo erected in the 17th century. With a height of 35 meters, it was at the time the tallest statue in the world. The interior of the statue can be visited, climbing all the way to the head. The monument was supposed to be at the center of a Sacro Monte, which was never completed. Of the many planned chapels, only three remain today, as well as a church.

Rocca of Arona

The Rocca of Arona was a fort located on a large rock formation overlooking Arona on the shores of Lake Maggiore. After the fortress was demolished in the early 19th century, the area has been turned into a park and now it offers a great view on the lake.