The well-known Lago Maggiore is the most western and second largest of the Italian lakes, after the Lake Garda in Venetia. It has a size of 212 square kilometres of which the northern top lies in Switzerland and the eastern coast in the Italian region Lombardy. The most charming part of the lake is the western coast, which lies in the Piedmont.

Many picturesque villages line up along the coastline from north to south and offer everything from camping in Cannobio to prestigious enjoyment in Stresa and Baveno. Here you can make excursions to the Isole Boromee, which can be reached by a ferry ride. The beautiful islands Isola Bella and Isola Madre dazzle with their Palazzi and wonderful gardens and the Isola dei Pescatori offers many restaurants in a paradisiac location right at the water.

The smaller brother of the Lago Maggiore is the Lago d’Orta in the west with a length of 13 km west. The coastal road stretches along the eastern shore with small villages. The most charming village is Orta San Giulio, which lies on a peninsula reaching far into the lake. From here, you can visit the small island Isola San Giulio or the Sacro Monte d’Orta right above the village.

Alpine landscapes and wild valleys

The Monte Rosa with a height of 4,634 m is the second highest mountain of the Alps. The mountain massif stretches along the Italian border to Switzerland.