Top Things to do in Lake Maggiore
What to do and see in Lake Maggiore, Piedmont: The Best Historic Sites
On the south side of the Alps, Lake Maggiore is the second largest lake in Italy. Since the climate is mild year-round, the area is filled with Mediterranean vegetation and exotic plants. Lake Maggiore was featured in Ernest Hemingway's infamous novel, A Farewell to Arms, when the protagonist and his lover must row across the lake in order to escape the Italian Carabinieri (think police in military uniforms). Here's hoping you won't have any run-ins of that nature.
Restaurants in Lake Maggiore
1. Isola Bella
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,703 reviews
One of three magical islands on Lake Maggiore, Isola Bella charms visitors with its magnificent Baroque palace and terraced gardens that slope to the lake.
Reviewed By 327inezg - Fredericton, Canada
Iola Bella is the largest of the Islands in Lake Maggiore, privately owned by the Borromeo Family, on which they have a beautiful family home filled with many family treasures and equally beautiful gardens both of which were open and well worth a visit.
2. Rocca Borromea di Arona
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 634 reviews
Reviewed By paolovbossi - The Hague, The Netherlands
It is a unmissable spot when you visit Arona. It is one of my favourite place and the location is amazing. During the years the ruins of the castle have been restored and now they are the perfect background to this park. The view is simply amazing....no doubts that it is the best view of the Lake Maggiore
3. Palazzo Borromeo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,890 reviews
In 1670 Count Vitaliano Borromeo decided to turn a rock awash in the middle of the lake into a “place of delights”. It took four centuries to complete this magnificent work that includes Palazzo Borromeo and its scenic gardens. The tour of the house is fascinating: the Throne and Queens rooms, the Napoleon's Room, the Gallery of General Berthier displaying a collection of 130 paintings. On a lower floor, six grottoes covered with pebbles, tufa rock, stucco and marble were designed to afford cool relief from summer heat. World famous, its baroque garden, with the Teatro Massimo at the centre, consists of ten terraces in the shape of a truncated pyramid. Visitors marvel at the sight of the monumental unicorn, the obelisks, the statues, the two towers and other architectural elements, as well as the mighty trees, like the camphor and citrus trees, and the collections of roses, rhododendrons and camellias.
Reviewed By BestPlaces2015 - Madrid, Spain
We went at the end of august in the late afternoon. The boat trip is less than 10 minutes and already from the water, you can enjoy the beauty of the Isola Bella ( The Beautiful Island). The entry is €17 per person and you have to go through the Palazzo first before getting into the Garden. Isola Bella’s palazzo is like a baroque chest of wonders floating on the water. You will walk through beautifully furnished halls that afford incredible views of the lake and witness many renowned artists’ exclusive paintings, precious furniture, marbles, neo-classical stuccos, shining armors and Flemish tapestries made of silk and gold. The Italian garden with a baroque taste spreads on parterres and terraces placed at different heights and sprinkled with statues, obelisks, ageless stone stairs and balustrades. This results in an impressive view, displaying the power and magnificence of the noble house. Take your time and enjoy being sound rounded by the incredible beauty of Isola bella
