This page is dedicated to all tourist attractions of the Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. Apart from beautiful coastal town Stresa, there are also numerous castles and archeological sites and incredible islands that enrich the tourist offer of the Lake Maggiore. Since there is not a large number of such locations, we decided to put them all in one category under the cumulative name - Attractions. Some of the islands and villas of the lake are so beautiful that will inspire the imagination of most visitors. There are also numerous incredible gardens, made in Italian and English style that will take your breath away.
Stresa is a small Italian village located in the Piemonte region with almost 5.000 habitants. Stresa is considered to be the most beautiful inland of Lake Maggiore Immersed in greenery and illuminated by the reflection of the sun, which shyly reflects itself in the waters of the lake: there is no need to add anything else to describe it. At the same time, it is impossible not to mention the wonderful gardens, the rows of palm trees that parade near the shores of the lake, the historical buildings and the liberty style hotels that revive the Belle Époque. A favorite destination in Stresa is the Park of Villa Pallavicino, an English garden with an astonishing view to the lake, very famous for extraordinary variety of plants and animals in the wild.
Villa Ducale is the oldest villa in Stresa. Located on the lakefront, villa Ducale was built by the Bolongaro family in 1770. From 1850 to 1855, it became the residence of the philosopher Antonio Rosmini, considered the greatest Italian thinker of the 1800s, and a place where the greatest personalities of the Italian Risorgimento were hosted. The philosophical dialogues between Manzoni and Rosmini were particularly famous.In 1857 and in the following fifty years, the villa became the favorite holiday resort of the Duchess of Genoa, the Princess Elizabeth of Saxony.
Island Bella is a part of the archipelago of the Borromean Islands; about 400 meters away from the coast of Stresa, it can be reached by boat from the docks of Stresa, Verbania, Baveno or Arona. The island Bella is a real natural pearl. It has always been a favorite destination in the area of Lake Maggiore and a must-see destination for all those who want to enjoy a panorama of indescribable charm. A wonderful baroque palace dominates the island with its stunning gardens made in Italian style. Numerous areas of the building are open to visitors:
Island Madre, also called L’Isola Madre, is the largest of the three islands of the Borromeo Gulf and the most characteristic of them all. The magnificent palace on Island Madre is furnished with furniture from historical homes of famous Borromeo family. Here you will have the opportunity to take a walk through beautiful and richly decorated rooms, such as the Sala delle Bambole, the hall of four Seasons and a small theatre dedicated to the Marionettes.
Villa Borromeo on the island Madre was built in a baroque style. The villa occupies almost the entire island and was designed and decorated by the most famous architects and artists of that time. The interior, elegant and sumptuously furnished, houses an unmissable collection of Flemish tapestries. The underground rooms, on the other hand, are characterized by artificial caves with walls encrusted with shells and decorated with nymphs and mirrors of black marble.
