When I arrived to Lake Maggiore in the Italian Lake District one July afternoon, I was completely taken away by the views every way I looked.
On one side of me were quaint little houses snuggled in the villages around the lake, and on the other side of me was a vast lake, scattered with unique islands in the crystal blue water. While swimming to these islands sounded like the grand adventure I wanted, I figured that my legs and arms might not be the best form of transportation. So I went to the nearest boat dock and bought my ferry ride for the multitude of islands that Lake Maggiore had to offer.
One of the most amazing things about the islands was the diversity that each one contains. Each of them had its personality and appeal. My first stop was Isonlino di San Giovanni, one of the smaller islands. This island featured Villa Taranto, the large botanical gardens that cover the majority of the island. These gardens were magical to walk through, with flowers of every size, shape, and color. Scattered everywhere were beautiful fountains. I felt like I was on palace grounds, stopping to look at all of the flower descriptions and meandering through the many different-themed areas that the gardens had to offer. One of the things that I love about botanical gardens is the peace they bring you. Because they are never too crowded, you feel like anywhere is a good spot to plop down and read a good book or just think, maybe even have a picnic. The mix of fragrances coming from the array of flowers, the sound of the birds chirping, and the lapping of the waves on the coast of the island make for a beautiful atmosphere to just sit and enjoy the afternoon.
Another island that stood out was Isola Bella. The name is telling. This island was truly beautiful. I had already spotted it from the beaches of my hotel, sparkling with many lights shining on its castle-like gardens at night. The island was just as amazing during the day. While it was a little pricey to get into, Palazzo e Giardino Barromeo, the large palace and gardens on the island, was absolutely worth touring through. The palace is like a museum—you walk in and can’t help but stare at the amazing architecture inside. The beautiful chandeliers, paintings, and other pieces of décor that have resided in the palace for hundreds of years were breathtaking. But the best part of the palace was the downstairs basement. This part of the castle was very unique in its architecture—the walls were completely covered in designs of black and white rocks! Because the palace was finished in 1670, well before air conditioning, theses rocks created a “grotto” feel to the basement and kept it cool during the hot Italian summers. This grotto-type architecture was also continued on a large castle-looking statue out in the elaborate gardens that accompany the palace. Like Villa Taranto, these gardens had many exotic flowers and exotic white peacocks! With a 360-degree view of the lake, the palace gardens were also a wonderful place to take in the beauty experienced on Lake Maggiore.
While in the Italian, it is crucial to visit Lake Maggiore. But instead of just lounging on the beaches of Stresa, you must take the ferry out to the different islands. There’s something new to discover on each one.
Article written by Sarah Graham.
