The Gardens of Lake Maggiore
Gardens, flowers, ancient palaces and villas are the ingredients of this journey along the shores and waters of Lake Maggiore. The Borromean Gulf, Villa Taranto and the Brissago islands.
From the Borromean Gulf with its three islands, Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola Pescatori, we will move on to the marvellous botanical park of Villa Taranto in Verbania and reach the Swiss shore of the lake with the Brissago islands
Day 1: Arrival at the hotel, check-in, and dinner
Day 2: Today you will visit the Borromean Islands. From Stresa you take a private motorboat to Isola Bella and the famous Borromeo palace and its renowned Italian gardens. The magnificent baroque architecture with the 10 terraces on the lake will without a doubt amaze you. Afterwards you continue with a visit to Isola Pescatori with its quaint fisherman's village. You will finish the day exploring the botanical gardens of Isola Madre with its camelias, rhododendrons, azaleas, wisterias and Europe's largest Cypress of Kashmir, which in 2006 was uprooted by a storm but survived thanks to the meticulous care of the island's gardeners.
Day 3: Villa Taranto. What may be the most famous botanical garden in Northern Italy has over 20.000 varieties and species of particular botanical value. Captain McEacharn begun, in 1931, to collect and acclimatize plants from all over the world in this remote part of Italy which reminded him of his native Scotland. Upon his death he was buried in a chapel built for this purpose in the garden. Today the garden changes color with each blooming; some of the most famous being the tulips in April, the waterlilies in summer and the dahlias in autumn. Free time for shopping or for a nice promenade in Intra
Day 4: The Islands of Brissago. Today you return to Lake Maggiore's island gardens. By bus you arrive in Ascona on the Swiss side of the lake from where you take the boat towards the famous islands. Baronesse Antoinette de Saint Léger, transformed, in 1885, the Isola Grande into an exotic garden. The residence became a centre for cultural activities. Since 1949 they are property of the canton and have opened to the public. The botanical garden (2.5 hectares) offers more than 1500 species of plants originating from the Mediterranean, subtropical Asia, South Africa, America and Oceania. After the visit, stop in Ascona for a stroll along the lake front where the Jazz festival is held each year.
Day 5: Return home after breakfast.
Price starting from Euro 358,00 per person / minimum 25 participants
Duration: 5 days
The package includes:
- N. 4 nights with half board in a good 3* hotel in the Lake Maggiore area
- N. 3 full day guide services
- Private motorboat transfer to the Borromean Islands (Isola Madre, Isola Bella and Isola Pescatori)
- Return boat transfer with public boats Ascona- Brissago islands
- Entrance ticket to palace and gardens of Isola Madre and Isola Bella
- Entrance ticket to Villa Taranto botanical gardens
- Entrance ticket to Brissago Islands
