8 wonderful ways to experience majestic Lake Maggiore
With its picture-perfect villages, sumptuous Baroque palaces and immaculate gardens, Lake Maggiore* offers no shortage of cultural and outdoor pursuits.
The shores of Italy*'s second-largest lake are studded with lakefront villages that exude a tranquil, laidback air, while the area's manicured gardens are rated among the country's most exquisite.
This is also a haven for sports enthusiasts, with scores of exhilarating water-based activities on offer, from water skiing to canyoning.
Getting to Lake Maggiore: book your next break to the Italian Lakes including Lake Maggiore with TUI Lakes & Mountains*.
Visit the Borromean Islands
Lying offshore from the resort town of Stresa* are the striking Borromean Islands, arguably Lake Maggiore's primary attraction.
The short journey across from Stresa is a treat, with the two islands' ornate Baroque palazzi slowly coming into view. Isola Bella is the most visited, its sumptuously furnished palazzo home to intricately adorned shell-encrusted grottos.
It's the terraced gardens, however, that are the real highlight. Dotted with fountains and statues shaded by plump lemon and orange trees, and framed by magnolias, camellias and cypresses, the gardens are an utter delight, with white peacocks roaming about, spreading out their tail feathers in striking displays.
The smaller, quieter Isola Madre is less visited but no less beautiful; its gardens are home to a colony of parrots and peacocks, while the island's villa houses an interesting collection of family curios, from dolls and puppets to period furnishings.
Dine on Isola dei Pescatori
Lying north of Isola Bella, compact Isola dei Pescatori is lined with narrow alleyways snaking through a cluster of pretty houses with distinctive red roofs. Soak up the ambience by enjoying a gentle stroll around the island, taking in the sublime views.
It's also a great spot for a lazy lunch; try the lakefront Il Verbano, which serves excellent dishes on a terrace offering dreamy vistas.
Experience adrenaline-packed sports
Lake Maggiore offers no shortage of water-based activities, from gentle boat rides and SUP tours to wakeboarding and windsurfing. The surrounding mountains and valleys also offer the perfect natural setting to experience the thrill of canyoning.
You'll be able to admire the area's wonderful landscapes as you explore one of the many routes that meander through rocks and natural pools, catering to all levels of canyoning enthusiasts. Climbing is big on the western shore too, with a handful of vie ferrate, mountain routes with cables, bridges and ladders in place to aid climbers and walkers.
The Picassass Via Ferrata is an easy, scenic choice; you'll be rewarded with fabulous views of Lakes Maggiore and Varese, stretching all the way to the snow-capped Alps.
Get out in the surrounding mountains
Lake Maggiore is a trekker's paradise, with time-honoured trails crisscrossing the surrounding mountains.
Fearing a German-Austrian invasion through neutral Switzerland during WWI, Luigi Cadorna, Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, built a defence system near the Swiss border, with military roads, mule tracks, artillery positions, lookout posts, barracks and camp hospitals.
Though the structure was never used for its intended purpose, today it provides a network of scenic trekking and mountain biking trails.
Stroll beautiful gardens at Villa Taranto
Built in the second half of the 19th century, Villa Taranto was acquired in 1931 by Scotsman, Captain Neil McEacharn, who landscaped the 40-acre gardens, introducing all manner of exotic plants from the world over to give life to the stunning botanical gardens you see today.
Rows of vibrant flower beds are punctuated with waterfalls and statues while meandering paths snake through trimmed parterres with azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias. Try and visit in spring when the flowers are in bloom in exuberant displays of colour.
Spy the dolls at the Rocca di Angera
If you're travelling with children, don't miss the lovely Doll Museum at the Rocca di Angera, with a collection that houses one thousand dolls from the end of the 18th century to the present day.
The dolls, both period and contemporary, are carefully arranged inside miniature shops and houses, bringing each display beautifully to life.
See the sunset from Santa Caterina del Sasso
Carved into a sheer cliff that plunges into the lake waters is the striking Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, once home to a community of Augustinian monks (these days, it's run by a community of Oblate Benedictines).
It's an arresting sight that is best approached from the water, from where you'll have to climb 80 steps to reach the two convents and the church (if you're driving, you'll have to walk down 240 steps from the car park). Try and visit at sunset, when the low lighting delicately paints the monastery in shades of pink.
Explore lesser-known lakes
Lying west of Lake Maggiore is little Lake Orta, one of the Italian Lakes' most romantic spots. Its main town, Orta San Giulio is gorgeous, with narrow cobbled lanes winding through its medieval core.
Catch the boat across to Isola San Giulio, whose convent houses a community of nuns, then walk up to Sacro Monte, a devotional hillside complex with 20 chapels occupying a shaded woodland; visit in the late afternoon and watch the sun set over Isola San Giulio.
Little Lake Mergozzo nearby is also worth visiting. It's well off the main tourist trail and is a paradise for keen cyclists. Foodies won't want to miss Lake Mergozzo's two Michelin-star Piccolo Lago, where Chef Marco Sacco crafts outstanding dishes that make the most of local ingredients.
Climate in Lake Maggiore
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °F | ||||||||||||
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall |
The above guide shows the climate in Lake Maggiore. Find out more about when to visit Lake Maggiore and other Italian lakes in our complete guide to the climate in the Italian Lakes.
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