A view that is almost beyond compare: the Alpine lakes in Northern Italy combine the grandeur of the mountain world with Mediterranean warmth and a gentle climate. Here the palms are reflected in the water that gleams in the sun while in the background the mountain summits rise up majestically.
The Borromaic Islands, including Isola Bella and Isola Madre, are among the attractions of Lago Maggiore. The rise of Isola Bella, once a barren, rocky island, to become the home of more than 2,000 different plant species from all over the world began in the 18th century, when the garden’s famous Baroque gardens were laid out.
Lago Maggiore extends from the southern end of the Alps to the edge of the Po Valley. Only 4 km wide in the centre and with an area of 212.5 km_, it is the second-largest lake in Italy. What cannot be summed up in numbers but has to be experienced is the beauty of the nature, the charm of the lakeshore towns and the very special interplay of light and colours.
