Lake Maggiore

The historical importance of Angera is contained in its fortress where lived some famous families as the Visconti and the Borromeo to which Saint Charles belonged.

The history goes on nowadays with this last family, since it is still the owner of the castle and of the homonym islands. Here you can visit the marvellous palace and the rare dolls collection. During summertime in this little islands important concerts are performed. The interesting cultural events housed in this palace are comparable to that of the Lake Como. All this is illustrated by the wonderful ancient villas that ornament the lakeside road, as the great hotels, whose name are written in history. 

Stresa, Arona, Lesa, Meina and Belgirate are with their splendid gardens (as for example that of Villa Taranto and Villa Pallavicino) the favourite scenary of the international tourism. Covering the road that takes to the Mottarone top, and going down towards the Lake d'Orta you can admire a marvellous view (see this item).

In the smart cafès of the most famous villlages you could taste the good pastries as the unforgettable " margheritine", and for the fans of shopping we advise the Baven ceramics. To the north the Lake goes beyond the Swiss territory. A smaller lake is that of Varese; it is surrounded by an hills scenary rich of aristocratic villas as for example Villa Cicogna Mozzoni, frescoed by Ciampi ( a painter who came from Cremona ), or the Rennaisance villas in Castiglione Olona that was property of the Bishop Branda Castiglioni. Don't forget to visit also Lake Monate, where was introduced for the first time in the XIXth century the black bass from the north America.We hope your stay here will be so pleasant as it has been for this fish.