Beautiful villas and imposing fortresses and castles are located around the lake and its islands and bear witness to the history and culture that enrich the charms of this place: start with the Castello Visconteo of Locarno, the Rocca of Arona and the Rocca Borromea in Angera, which now houses a doll’s museum. Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Madre and Isola Bella, the eighteenth-century Villa Ponti in Arona and Villa Treves in Belgirate, which hosted among its guests Gabriele D’Annunzio and Giovanni Verga, are just some of the very interesting villas. Villa Ducale and Villa Pallavicini with its zoological park are located in Stresa, whilst the splendid Verbania hosts many beautiful villas such as Villa Giulia and Villa Taranto and the nearby Villa San Remigio.

The lake

The islands

Nature

Active holiday