EXPLORE

Borromean Islands

Isola Bella – the “beautiful island,” where you can visit the Borromeo Palace, elegant terraced gardens, with rare and exotic plants.
Isola dei Pescatori – is the only one among the Borromean islands where you can find a village: walk its narrow alleys and admire the balconies that were used to dry fish in the sun, where you can find various traditional fishermen’s festivals every year, such as the Ferragosto festival with a procession with small boats in the waters of the lake.
Many trattorias where you can enjoy typical and lake dishes.
Isola Madre – This is the largest of the islands on Lake Maggiore.
The 1500s palace is home to a museum of ancient puppet theaters and a collection of porcelain dolls.
Its magnificent garden is inhabited by exotic plants and birds.

Villa Taranto

Anyone who has lived in Verbania on Lake Maggiore for a long time or a season or even a summer afternoon has certainly visited the garden of Villa Taranto.
Indeed, the notoriety it enjoys throughout the world does not dispense the more hurried from spending a couple of hours there.
Entering the gardens of Villa Taranto is like taking a journey through distant countries.

Villa Pallavicino

Botanical and zoological garden with wonderful trees that are among the oldest in Italy, red beeches, maples, larches, ginko bilobas, redwoods, magnolias and the grandiose cedar of Lebanon; inside there is a zoo of about 20 hectares where you can admire more than 50 species of animals including deer, hares, monkeys, zebras and kangaroos, all living in complete freedom.

The valleys

Entering the valleys of the Ossola Lakes, Mountains and Valleys Tourism District, one reaches:
– Val Grande National Park, the largest wilderness area in the Alps and in Italy
– Alpe Veglia and Devero Regional Park
– Macugnaga Wildlife Oasis, at the foot of Monte Rosa, with the tradition and culture of the Walser community
– Val Vigezzo, the picturesque Valley of Painters and Chimney Sweeps, to be discovered aboard the historic Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway, which connects Domodossola to Locarno.
– Antigorio Valley with swimmable beaches, the greens of 6 golf clubs with magnificent lake views, state-of-the-art spas and the well-equipped Premia Spa

Ski resorts

For lovers of winter disciplines downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, ski mountaineering, snowboarding, snowshoeing opportunities:
– VAL FORMAZZA: Formazzasky, Riale and San Michele lifts
– ALPE DEVERO: for freeride snowboarding
– VAL DIVEDRO: San Domenico, Alpe Ciamporino
– DOMODOSSOLA: Monte Moncucco, Domobianca
– VAL ANTRONA: Cheggio
– VAL ANZASCA: Macugnaga (Belvedere, Monte Moro)
– MOTTARONE
– PIAN DI SOLE

Culinary traditions

The richness of the area is expressed with alpine gastronomic realities such as smoked ham from Val Vigezzo, mortadella from Val d’Ossola, and mountain pasture cheeses such as Bettelmatt, Ossolano d’Alpe and Toma del Mottarone, to be enjoyed with rye or walnut bread and a good glass of the superb DOCG Ghemme and Gattinara.
In the local cuisine dishes include river and lake fish, first and foremost whitefish, and then perch, pike, brown trout, tench, eel and the typical bleak.
Desserts include Cannobio’s Pan Dolce and Stresa’s Margheritine.