Holiday apartment on Lake Maggiore: islands, gardens and fortresses

Lake Maggiore brings together impressive islands, historic fortresses and carefully designed gardens with a wide range of nature experiences. Isola Bella is located on Lake Maggiore and was transformed in the 17th century from a barren rock into an architectural and cultural ensemble. Isola Madre is an eight-hectare, lushly vegetated island in the Gulf of Borromeo, with impressive blossoms and vividly colored birds.

Culture and history

Rocca di Angera is an exceptionally well-preserved medieval fortress with historic rooms, towers, courtyards, a museum and a period-style garden. It includes a 2,000-square-meter medieval garden situated between a vineyard and the battlemented walls facing the lake. Admission to Rocca di Angera includes a guided tour of the historic rooms, as well as a visit to the Doll and Toy Museum and the medieval garden.

The Castelli di Cannero are located in the northern part of Lake Maggiore on two rocky islands and form a fortified complex consisting of a main fortress and a former prison building. The history of these island castles is conveyed at Cannero Walking Tales through an immersive museum experience that combines technology and tradition.

Islands and gardens

At Isola Madre, botanical tours of the plant collections are offered and led by expert gardeners. The Botanical Gardens of Villa Taranto also combine nature and landscaped grounds: they include greenhouses with exotic plants, avenues rich in blossoms, fountains and views of Lake Maggiore. Victoria Cruziana is cultivated in the greenhouses. The gardens can be reached via the “VILLA TARANTO” boat landing served by Lake Maggiore shipping, which is located directly in front of the main entrance.

Trails and excursion destinations

Nature trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding begin on the shores of Lake Maggiore. In the immediate vicinity of Lake Maggiore, the Sacro Monte della SS. Trinità di Ghiffa offers a sanctuary, three chapels and a covered Stations of the Cross in a nature reserve with forest trails. Also nearby, the Villa Pallavicino zoological park is home to more than 40 animal species that move freely there, alongside a neoclassical villa overlooking the lake.

In the immediate vicinity of Lake Maggiore, the Colossus of San Carlo Borromeo can be climbed via an internal staircase; the statue’s eyes offer a panoramic view. The Eremo di Santa Caterina del Sasso can be reached by boat from Arona or Stresa, with several departures per day.

Landscape and regional surroundings

The area around Lake Maggiore is home to Palazzo Flaim, a named palace, as well as the peaks of Poncione di Breno, Pòla and Pizzo Marona. In the wider region are Villa San Remigio and Villa Baumann, both named palaces, as well as the Collezione Giancarlo e Danna Olgiati, a named museum, and the Falconeria Locarno, a named zoo.

A reserve described on Lake Maggiore comprises approximately 30 hectares of reed marsh as well as narrow strips of shoreline with willows and diverse flora. During bird migration, it is an internationally important resting place for numerous bird species.

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More destinations in the overarching travel region: Marche, Campania, Basilicata, Aosta Valley, Apulia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Tuscany, Sicily.

To the overarching travel overview: Italy.