Spring on Lake Maggiore: camellia and citrus fruit festival

A tour to discover the first blossoms and the traditional cultivation of citrus camellias on Lake Maggiore.

Both are celebrated in March with popular festivals: the Citrus in Cannero on the 2nd and 3rd weekends, the Camellias in Locarno on the last weekend of March.

Day 1: arrival and accommodation in the hotel, dinner and overnight stay

Day 2: Accompanied by a local guide, you will now drive along the entire shoreline of Lake Maggiore to Locarno, Switzerland's warmest and sunniest town, famous for its film festival. Here we visit the Camellia Park, an oasis of peace boasting over 850 different species of camellias and a flowering period of around nine months. The park is designed with different flower beds and areas so as to form a labyrinth, within which visitors can lose themselves. We then proceed to Ascona for a short walk in this small town. The last stop is Cannero, where, thanks to a special microclimate, citrus fruits have flourished spontaneously since the 17th century. With your guide, you will visit the villas and gardens in this village to admire the blossoming typical of this area. At the end, free time to savour the atmosphere of this charming village. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: The morning is dedicated to visiting the private garden of Villa Anelli, created in 1872 and home to hundreds of camellias. The garden was built in the Romantic style and is still surprising not only for the splendid varieties of camellias present here, but also for the atmosphere of the past that can still be felt here.
After the visit, return to the centre of the lake and possibility to stop in Verbania to enjoy a lunch break in the centre. It is also possible to visit Villa Giulia in Verbania, before returning to the places of origin. Villa Giulia, which once belonged to the noble Branca family, is home to numerous species of camellias from Lake Maggiore as well as some centuries-old specimens such as a cork oak.

Price starting from Euro 154,00 per person / minimum 25 participants 
Duration:  3 days

The package includes: 

• N. 2 nights with half board in a good 3* hotel in the Lake Maggiore area
• N. 2 full day guide services 
• Entrance ticket to the gardens of Villa Anelli