Lago Maggiore

A stroll through the historic old town of Locarno is a must on any visit to Lake Maggiore. The car-free Piazza Grande lies in the center of a network of pretty streets and alleys and is a well-known meeting place for young and old - whether in the street café or at one of the numerous events.

The Castello Visconteo was once the residence of the Visconti family, one of Italy's most important dynasties. A popular place of pilgrimage in a breathtaking setting is the Sanctuary Madonna del Sasso, which is located slightly above the city and thus offers a magnificent view of the center and the lake.

The five Borromean Islands are real jewels on the water. They are located between Verbania and Stresa in the eastern part of the lake and can be reached by ferry. The islands are named after the Borromeo family, the owners of the islands since the 12th century.

The largest of the islands is Isola Madre, famous for its English-style gardens. The second largest, Isola Bella, is home to Palazzo Borromeo, a picturesque palace adjoined by extensive gardens. On Isola dei Pescatori, as the name suggests, there is a small fishing village with about 50 inhabitants.

The small Isola di San Giovanni is privately owned and not accessible to tourists, while Scoglio della Malghera is uninhabited and is visited only irregularly.

By the way, the lakeside town of Stresa with its Belle Epoque villas and hotel palaces is also worth seeing.