What to see in Lake Maggiore: places, routes, parks

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Lago Maggiore is one of the largest lakes in Italy, located in Lombardy, Piedmont and Canton Ticino in the north of the country. On its shores are beautiful villages, unspoiled beaches and plenty of places for peaceful walks. We should also mention the rich gastronomic culture of the area, where the traditions of Lombardy and Piedmont are combined in the dishes. This place is worth a visit during your vacation to fully explore it. Here's what to see on Lago Maggiore.

One of the beautiful spots on Lago Maggiore is Stresa.

This picturesque town is famous for its historic villas and magnificent views of the lake. Don't miss the opportunity to visit the Borromean Islands, home to historic palaces and gardens.

Another interesting place to visit is Arona

located on the western shore of the lake. Arona is famous for the Colossus of St. Carlo, a statue over 30 meters high that towers over the town.

As you continue your journey, you will discover Verbania.

A charming city known for its beautiful gardens. Villa Taranto Botanical Garden is a true paradise on the lake, with a huge collection of rare and exotic plants.

It is also worth visiting Baveno

famous for its promenade and ancient church. Mergozzo is located on two lakes at once and is an ideal destination for nature lovers. Laveno Mombello is the main gateway to Lombardy on Lago Maggiore and is home to an important cable car leading to the mountains. Angera is finally famous for its well-preserved fortress and charming waterfront.

There are other noteworthy places to visit including Cannobbio, Luino, Castelletto sopra Ticino and Cannero Riviera. On the Swiss coast, Locarno, famous for its old town and important film festival, is worth a visit.

If you want to explore Lago Maggiore in an organized way, you can consider several itineraries and perhaps save something for your next visit. Consider exploring one of the two "halves" of the lake:

Lombardian shore: Starting from the south, don't forget to visit Angera and its fortress, the magnificent Laveno Mombello and, moving north, the town of Luino with its famous market, among the free attractions of the lake.

The Piedmontese coast: is divided into several provinces. Its most famous places are Arona with its waterfront and "Sancarlone", Stresa with the Borromean islands, Verbania, Mergozzo, and almost on the Swiss border, Cannobbio.

There are certainly a lot of things to see in three days on Lago Maggiore. In three days you can visit the most famous sights of Lago Maggiore and make wonderful memories.

The first day can be dedicated to discovering Stresa and the Borromean Islands. The ferry will take you to the islands of Bella, Madre and Pescatori. Here, in addition to lush gardens, you will also see important art collections.

The second day can be spent exploring picturesque lakeside villages and towns. Places like Arona and Verbania are known for their historic villas, stores of local artisans and restaurants where you can taste the traditional cuisine of the region.

The third day can finally be dedicated to nature. Lago Maggiore is surrounded by parks and nature reserves, ideal for hiking or cycling.

It's pretty easy to get around Lago Maggiore. The cities of the lake are well connected by various modes of transportation, making it possible to get around safely even without a car. Most popular modes of transportation:

• Car: allows you to visit all places at your convenience. The Lombardyside of the lake is connected from the south via SP 69 and from SS 394 to the Swiss border. The Piedmont side, in turn, is served by the A 26 and SS 34 freeways.
• Bicycle: An alternative to the automobile can be the bicycle. There are many bike paths along the lake offering spectacular views.
• The ferry: for a truly unique and quick experience, you can travel by ferry. Ferries sail the lake from north to south, stopping at various places along the shore. This allows you to visit different places in one day without worrying about parking.
• Train: Some towns in the lake are served by a rail line. The main stations are Sesto Calende, Laveno Mombello, Arona and Verbania.
• Bus: various routes connect the main towns of the lake and their surroundings.

Lago Maggiore is surrounded by a variety of parks that offer spectacular panoramic views and opportunities for outdoor activities. One of the most famous parks is the Val Grande National Park, which covers the area between Lago Maggiore and Lago d'Orta, including much of the Val d'Ossola region.

Don't forget to visit the Ticino Valley Nature Park, which stretches along the Ticino River. This park offers a variety of activities including biking, paddling and bird watching.

There are also several city parks, the ancient gardens of palatial villas. Among the most famous are Villa Pallavicino and the gardens of Villa Taranto.

A trip to Lago Maggiore would not be complete without discovering the authentic flavors of the area. The local cuisine is a blend of tradition and innovation that will not leave you indifferent.

Start with traditional lake fish dishes such as peppercorn, a fish with a delicate flavor that is often served with rice or corn porridge. Alborella, pike and trout are also very popular.

But not only fish: the cuisine of Lago Maggiore also offers a variety of meat and vegetable dishes. For example, polenta concha, slow-cooked with cheese and butter, or deer meat, wild boar. The cheeses from the surrounding Alps are also very tasty.

To learn more about the history and culture of each village in this magnificent area, here are a few articles that may interest you:

• Stresa
• Arona
• Verbania
• Baveno
• Mergozzo
• Laveno Mombello
• Angera
• Cannobio
• Luino
• CastellettoTicino
• Cannero Riviera

Living on Lago Maggiore

Lago Maggiore is a place that can be admired at any time and in any season. Its rich culture and gorgeous scenery make it an ideal place to relocate or spend a vacation. With Idealista you can find out where to live in the region and choose the most suitable home for your interests:

• Apartments for sale in Lago Maggiore
• Apartments for rent in Lago Maggiore
• Vacation homes for rent in Lago Maggiore

I live inRome and I'm about a quarter of a century old (so far!). I've always loved writing, and my curiosity is my fuel: the most sympathetic call me "Wikipedia"; the less sympathetic... Working at Idealista since 2023, movies and traveling are two of my biggest passions, but I'm always willing to learn more about what's going on around me!