Seen from the hill of Zoverallo, Lake Maggiore looks like a still sea enclosed by mountains: in the middle of the water lie the Borromean Islands; on the shores, nineteenth-century villas and botanical gardens. Verbania is the ideal place to discover one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe, at the slow pace the landscape suggests.
Why visit Verbania
Verbania was created in 1939 from the union of Intra and Pallanza, two towns with different characters: Intra, more commercial, with its Saturday market; Pallanza, more elegant, with its lakefront and villas. Together they form the largest town on the Piedmont shore of the lake.
The Gardens of Villa Taranto
On the Castagnola promontory, the Botanical Gardens of Villa Taranto were created in the 1930s by the Scottish captain Neil McEacharn. They hold thousands of species from all over the world: rhododendrons, azaleas, maples, giant water lilies in the greenhouses. In spring the tulips and azaleas in bloom are spectacular.
The Pallanza lakefront
The Pallanza promenade, with its plane trees and landing stages, looks towards the islands and the Borromean Gulf. Opposite is the islet of San Giovanni, where Arturo Toscanini used to stay.
Churches and oratories
Between Intra and Pallanza you come across Romanesque and Baroque churches, such as the collegiate church of San Leonardo and the ancient church of San Remigio, on the Castagnola hill, with medieval frescoes.
The surroundings
The Borromean Islands
By boat you can reach the three islands of the gulf: Isola Bella, with the Baroque palace and terraced garden of the Borromeo family; Isola Madre, the largest, with a botanical garden where white peacocks roam; Isola dei Pescatori, a small village of houses packed along narrow lanes.
Stresa and the Mottarone
On the opposite shore, Stresa has a lakefront of grand Belle Époque hotels. From there you can go up the Mottarone, the mountain between Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta, from which you can see seven lakes.
Santa Caterina del Sasso
On the Lombard shore, the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso clings to a rock face rising sheer from the water. You reach it by boat or down a long flight of steps: a unique place of silence and prayer.
Val Grande National Park
Behind Verbania opens the Val Grande, the largest wilderness area in Italy, a national park of woods, streams and abandoned mountain pastures.
Lake Orta and Cannobio
About forty minutes away are Orta San Giulio and the island of San Giulio with its basilica. To the north, Cannobio has a colourful lakefront and a lively Sunday market.
| From Verbania to… | How | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|
| Villa Taranto | By car or on foot | 10–15 minutes |
| Borromean Islands | Boat from Pallanza | 15–30 minutes |
| Stresa | Boat or car | 30 minutes |
| Cannobio | Car | 30 minutes |
| Orta San Giulio | Car | 40 minutes |
When to go
April and May are the months of blossom: azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias transform gardens and villas. Summer is the season of boat trips and outings to the islands. In autumn the lake grows quiet and the surrounding woods turn red and gold: it is the best time for a retreat.
Where to stay
The Casa per Ferie Maria Mazzarello stands on the hill of Zoverallo, surrounded by nature and overlooking Lake Maggiore. It is a simple, quiet place, with well-kept rooms, a panoramic park with a viewpoint over the lake, meeting rooms, chapels and private parking. It hosts retreats and spiritual exercises and organises courses and gatherings throughout the year: the ideal base for those who want to discover the lake and find time for themselves.
