Lake Maggiore Piedmont: Borromean Islands & Enchanted Gardens

Lake Maggiore offers Piedmont some of Italy's most romantic and evocative landscapes. The western shore of this crystalline mirror of water, nestled between the Alps and the gentle Piedmontese hills, holds treasures of inestimable beauty: the legendary Borromean Islands and their botanical gardens that have enchanted travelers from around the world for centuries.

Here, where the lake opens in all its splendor, nature harmoniously blends with art and history. The azure waters reflect ancient patrician villas, terraced gardens that defy gravity, and islands that seem to float like precious jewels. Every corner tells stories of noble families, visionary botanists, and artists who found perfect inspiration in these places.

The Magnificent Borromean Islands: Jewels of Lake Maggiore

The Borromean Islands archipelago undoubtedly represents the most celebrated attraction of Piedmont's Lake Maggiore. These three pearls - Isola Bella, Isola Madre, and Fishermen's Island - emerge from the waters like divine creations, each with its own personality and secrets.

Isola Bella: The Baroque Palace on Water

Isola Bella is a triumph of baroque art and landscape genius. The Borromeo Palace, with its sumptuous halls decorated with Flemish tapestries and paintings by Italian masters, represents one of the most refined examples of 17th-century aristocratic residence. But it's the Italian garden that takes your breath away: ten terraces rising like a green pyramid, adorned with statues, fountains, and a theater of greenery overlooking the lake directly.

The botanical gardens of Isola Bella host an extraordinary collection of exotic plants: from majestic Lebanese cedars to delicate camellias, from multicolored azaleas to giant rhododendrons. During spring, the explosion of colors and fragrances transforms the island into an earthly paradise.

Isola Madre: The Lake's Largest Botanical Garden

Isola Madre is a true botanical Eden extending over eight hectares. Here nature reigns supreme, with landscape gardens where plants from every corner of the world grow freely. The monumental trees - some centuries old - create green cathedrals under which white peacocks, pheasants, and multicolored parrots roam undisturbed.

The 16th-century palace of Isola Madre houses collections of porcelain, antique marionettes, and period furnishings, while the gardens offer breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding mountains. The camellia blooming between March and April transforms the island into an unforgettable spectacle.

Fishermen's Island: Authentic Lake Life

Isola Superiore, known as Fishermen's Island, is the only one of the three islands inhabited year-round. Here time seems to have stopped: fishermen's houses huddle together, narrow alleys smell of fresh fish, and nets are still spread in the sun as in times past.

Verbania: The Garden Capital of Lake Maggiore

Verbania, an elegant city overlooking the lake, is considered the garden capital of Piedmont's Lake Maggiore. Its districts - Intra and Pallanza - are connected by splendid lakeside promenades where 19th-century villas surrounded by private botanical parks follow one another.

Villa Taranto: Italy's Most Famous Botanical Garden

The Villa Taranto Gardens represent one of Europe's most important botanical gardens. Created by Scottish Captain Neil McEacharn in the 1930s, these gardens host over 1,000 non-native botanical species and 20,000 plant varieties. The terraced gardens extend over 16 hectares and include tropical greenhouses, themed gardens, and one of the world's most beautiful dahlia collections.

During spring, the tulip blooming transforms the avenues into a multicolored carpet, while in summer the giant water lilies of the Victoria amazonica greenhouse attract visitors from around the world.

Stresa: The Elegant Living Room of Lake Maggiore

Stresa has always been considered the pearl of Lake Maggiore. This elegant resort town has hosted rulers, famous writers, and international artists throughout the centuries. The Stresa lakefront is an unforgettable walk among Art Nouveau villas, historic hotels, and manicured gardens that face directly onto the Borromean Islands.

The Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées and the Belle Époque

The famous Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées, inaugurated in 1863, represents the epitome of lakeside elegance and luxury. Its gardens, designed according to the taste of the era, offer a perfect setting for admiring the islands and the lake, while the interiors preserve all the charm of the Belle Époque.

Hidden Treasures of the Piedmont Shore

Beyond the most famous attractions, Piedmont's Lake Maggiore hides small villages and secret gardens worth discovering. Baveno, with its pink granite quarries and 19th-century villas, Ghiffa with its hat museum, and Cannobio, a picturesque medieval village, offer authentic glimpses of lake life.

Villa San Remigio and the Terraced Gardens

The Villa San Remigio Gardens in Verbania Pallanza represent a perfect example of early 20th-century landscape gardening. Created by Marchioness Silvana Saint-Bon, these terraced gardens offer a refined botanical collection and breathtaking panoramic views of the lake and Alps.

When to Visit Lake Maggiore's Gardens

Lake Maggiore offers emotions in every season, but to best appreciate its botanical gardens and the Borromean Islands, the best period runs from April to October. Spring offers the most spectacular blooms - azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, and tulips - while summer allows full enjoyment of tropical collections and evening lakeside walks.

• March-April: Camellia blooming and first azaleas
• May-June: Maximum splendor of rhododendrons and rose gardens
• July-August: Tropical collections and water lilies in bloom
• September-October: Autumn colors and last summer flowers

Practical Information for Your Visit

To reach the Borromean Islands, boats depart regularly from Stresa, Verbania, and Baveno. It's advisable to purchase the combined ticket that includes navigation and entrance to gardens and palaces. The Villa Taranto Gardens are easily accessible from Verbania, while for other gardens it's advisable to check opening hours that vary by season.

Piedmont's Lake Maggiore represents one of the most fascinating examples of how humans can collaborate with nature to create immortal beauty. Every garden, every island, every villa tells a love story for botany and art that continues to move today's visitors as it did those of centuries past.

Plan your visit to Lake Maggiore and let yourself be conquered by the magic of the Borromean Islands and their enchanted gardens. An experience that will remain forever in your heart, where nature's beauty merges with the refinement of Italian art.