Spring has come and from now on the tourism in Italy will reach its peak. So, it’s time to decide what to see when in Italy.
One of the most visited places are surely Italian lakes – see Five historical Italian villas you can visit around Lake Como.
Among all the lakes, lake Maggiore is one of the most known, and one of the best lakes in Italy.
It is in the Lombardy region and offers a great view, delicious food, beautiful islands and other interesting places you can see.
So, let’s see some of the things you can do around one of the best Italian lakes in Italy – Lake Maggiore.
ISOLA BELLA
Isola bella, literally beautiful island, is one of the Borromean Islands. Borromean islands are islands that belong to the Borromeo family.
Isola bella is 320 meters long and 400 meters wide. Up till 1632, it was only a small rocky isle with a small fishing village on it.
Then, Carlo III, of the Borromeo family, started to build a beautiful palace in honor of his wife Isabella D’Adda.
The works were started by the architect Angelo Crivelli and finished by Angelo Fontana.
This palace hosted many famous people like the Princess of Wales and Napoleon.
Nowadays the palace is open to tourists, who can admire the sumptuous furnishings and paintings.
Under the palace there are also some artificial caves surrounded by shells and pebbles.
However, on this isle there is also a magnificent Italian-style garden to see. It has ten different terraces with lemon and orange trees, cedars, magnolias, palms, camellias, oleanders, etc.
Isola Bella and all the Borromeo islands can be visited taking a ferry from both Stresa, Laveno, Pallanza and Intra.
ISOLA MADRE
Isola madre is another isle belonging to the Borromeo family. Although also this isle has some buildings on it, it is mostly known for its magnificent gardens.
The English-style gardens cover an area of eight hectares and include citrus, azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, etc.
On the isle there is also a villa built by Lancillotto Borromeo in the XVI century and containing important paintings, porcelains, and a collection of marionettes and puppets.
VILLA TARANTO
Villa Taranto is located in Pallanza, a town near lake Maggiore. It is famous in Italy for its beautiful gardens.
In 1931, the botanist Neil McEacharn bought an ancient Italian villa cut down many trees and decided to create a garden.
McEacharn travelled a lot and during his travels he always collected some plants that he then planted in his garden.
Today the garden hosts more than 20,000 variety of plants in a path long 7km.
Villa Taranto can be usually visited from 8.30 to 18.30 and the tickets costs around 10 €.
ROCCA D’ANGERA
Rocca d’Angera is a medieval castle located in Angera and owned by the Borromeo family.
Originally the castle belonged to Della Torre family but after the battle of Desio the castle became a Viscontis’ property. Then it was finally acquired by the Borromeos who expanded the castle and embellished it.
In the castle there is still the original painting depicting the victory of Viscontis in the battle of Desio.
The castle also hosts a beautiful dolls museum. This museum was founded in 1988 and includes dolls, toys, children’s books and board games.
Have you already been on Lake Maggiore? Do you agree that Lake Maggiore is one of the best lakes in Italy?
Credits
Original image by maxmann
