Lago Maggiore

Lago Maggiore is the second prealpine lake in Italy, after Garda Lake. Its name, "Maggiore", derives from the fact that it is the largest of the lakes in the area. In lake there are many large islands, small or tiny, divided between the 8 of Piedmont, the 2 of Switzerland and the only one in Lombardy, for a total of 11 islands, tourist destinations of great charm. Between Stresa and Verbania is the archipelago of Borromean Islands; in front of Swiss resort of Brissago are the two Isole di Brissago; in front of the coast of Cannero Riviera are instead the three cliffs emerged called Castelli di Cannero. Finally, the Isolino di San Giovanni in front of Verbania (famous because it was for many years residence, in the seventeenth-century Palazzo Borromeo, of the conductor Arturo Toscanini), the islet La Malghera also called Isola delle Bambole, Isola Bella and that of Pescatori, and therefore Isolino Partegora, in the small Gulf of Angera. Around teh lake, some of the most beautiful villas built in northern Italy, with wonderful gardens and historic parks.