Jump in, dive in, sink or swim or even if you just want
to skim the surface, Lake Maggiore has it all.
From the beautiful Isola Bella to the tourist hotspots
of Arona, Stresa and Verbania - check out our free helpful guide to Lake
Maggiore
Lake Maggiore Guide. Also called Verbano this magnificent lake is
the second largest lake in Italy. It lies at the foot of the Alps
surrounded by the Morainic Hills. It is 100 miles long and 372 meters
deep at the deepest point. Its position allows it to have a warm climate
and it bathes in the fresh air from the surrounding mountains. Situated
194 meters above sea level, it covers 212 square kilometres. The little
towns on the shores of Lake Maggiore are popular tourist resorts today.
The common surrounding tourist centres are Arona, Stresa and Verbania.
There are small islands on Lake Maggiore.
To reach the lake, one can take different means of transportation. By
air, the Malpensa airport is about 40km southeast of Lake Maggiore. From
there you can take the bus or train for Arona. One can also take a
train. The stations at Stresa, Verbania and Arona link Switzerland to
the northern side of Italy, offering many ways to access the lake.
Alternatively, you can use the A8/A26 highway coming from the south
province of Milano. However, it is recommended to use public resources
such as trains, buses or boats when en route to Stresa or Arona. Tour
operators in Stresa or Arona organize many cruises for tourists. There
are individual or group tours organized to visit the lake and see what
it has to offer. Daily excursions enable tourists to move between
islands.
The Isola Bella is the most visited island. It has the famous Baroque
palace, the Palazo Borrromeo priceless masterpieces, furniture,
paintings and tapestries.
Stresa is situated on the west side of Lake Maggiore and is a popular
holiday resort. The villas and hotels are built in liberty style making
them unique; have an elegant look and assuming a certain peculiar
appearance. It has an attractive lakeside lined with a wide avenue of
flowerbeds and trees. From this location, the Borromeo islands can be
seen. Stresa has some interesting historical sights and museums. It has
old villas, located behind small alleys. The main avenue opens to Piazzo
Marconi overlooking the church of Saint Ambrogio. It has 17th century
paintings. However, most tourists come experience the wonderful views
over Lake Maggiore. Others prefer staying at Arona.
There are three islands on the lake, called the Borromee islands. These
include the Mother island, the Beautiful island and the Island of the
Fishermen. You can enjoy many sports. Water sports, hiking, cycling,
mountaineering, golf ice-skating and swimming can be enjoyed all yea
round due to the mild climate and warm summers. A major attraction is
bungee jumping off the Verzasca Dam. A thriller seeker will do a 220m
dive touching the waters with his or her hands down below during the
fall.
Health spas are many and provide a relaxation to the less adventurous
or after a long day. Other sports that have come up as results of the
tourism industry flourishing are wind surfing and kite surfing. Quiet
waters and wide spaces provide excellent conditions for wind surfers to
enjoy this thrilling sport. Other sports offered are water rafting,
sailing and canoeing.
If you are thinking of going on a trip to Italy, don't forget to take
this Lake Maggiore Guide.
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