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 Lake
Maggiore (or
Verbano) is at a height of 193 m and covers an area of
212 square km. Its western shore is in Piedmont, its
eastern shore in Lombardy and in the north it enters the
Swiss canton of Ticino. The mild climate in every season
favors the growth of Mediterranean and exotic plants,
which fill the gardens on its shores. The western shore
is undoubtedly more lively and offers a greater quantity
and variety of leisure activities. The eastern shore,
with various important towns, is more subdued, but
equally welcoming.
Cannobio
is a small town overlooking the lake, with various
pleasant architectural styles. By the lake-side there is
the late 16th century Santuario della Pietà,
and the Palazzo della Ragione,
of the 12th to the 13th centuries.
Cannero Riviera
is the departure point for a pleasing excursion to the
Castles of Cannero and the ancient stone village of
Carmine Superiore.
Verbania
is divided into two parts, called
Pallanza
and Intra,
and is a holiday town in a
magnificent medieval setting. It was one of the favorite
summer haunts of the great orchestra director
Arturo Toscanini.
The 18th century
Palazzo Dugnani
and the 19th century
Villa Taranto,
famous for its gardens (with 7 km of pathways and more
than 2000 plant species) are well worth visiting
Baveno
was host to various important figures in the 19th
century, including Queen Victoria. The lake-side roadway
is very picturesque. There is a parrocchiale, or parish
church and a Renaissance baptistery, with interesting
15th and 16th century frescoes.
Stresa
was built up in the late 18th and early 19th century and
is a town full of villas and gardens. It has a very
attractive lake-side promenade, lined by elegant villas,
with the splendid
Borromean Islands in the distance. These islands can he
reached from the jetty in piazza Marconi, overlooked by
the neoclassical Parish
church of Sant'Ambrogio.
Near Stresa there is the
Villa Pallavicino,
with its vast zoo-park where animals roam free, and in
the town there is an important Palazzo dei Congressi,
where exhibitions and events take place
The Borromean Islands
On the
Isola Bella (Beautiful Island) the
Palazzo Borromeo should not be missed, with its
splendid decorated rooms, rich art collections and
famous Italianate gardens on a series of exceptionally
attractive sloping terraces. On
Isola Madre
(Mother Island) there is another
Palazzo Borromeo
(XVIII century) whose fine rooms and stupendous
botanical garden full of exotic flowers and rare
vegetable species may be visited. The picturesque
Isola dei Pescatori
(Fishermen's island) is also very attractive
Arona
is the most important commercial center on Lake Maggiore
and a well-known health resort. Important events are
held here and it has interesting monuments as well as an
interesting archeological and natural history museum.
Walks and excursions can be made from here and it is
possible to enter the so-called
San Carlone, a gigantic statue of Saint Charles
Borromeo, and climb to the top to enjoy the exceptional
view.
And so we arrive in Lombardy
Laveno
 is
situated in a large bay on the east coast of the lake.
It is famous for the underwater illuminated Nativity
scene which is prepared every Christmas. The nearby
Sasso di Ferro
mountain, from which there is a marvelous panoramic
view, can be visited by cable-car, and the Sanctuary of Santa Caterina del Sasso,
of the 13th century is worth seeing.
At
Cerro, a centre
of ceramic production, 3 km from Laveno, there is an
interesting ceramics museum, the Civica Raccolta di Terraglia.
Luino
still has, at least in its historical town center, the
appearance of an ancient Lombard town. Here we can find
the 15th century Church of the Madonna del Carmine
and the Church of San Pietro
with a Romanesque bell-tower. Near the town there is the
picturesque Val
Veddasca
where old houses built in the typical local style can be
found. At the entrance to the valley there is the
attractive holiday village of
Maccagno.
Angera and the
nearby Ranco dominate the southern part of
the Lombard shore of the lake. At the former there is
the famous Rocca
Borromea castle,
and there are various interesting museums. |
