Northern Italy is known for its big lakes.
Its second-largest, Lake Maggiore, which is about 55 miles north of Milan and covers Lombardy, Piedmont and even part of Switzerland, has not only pristine waters and views but so many gardens that it was called the “Eden of Italy” by Victorian English writer John Ruskin.
Ruskin and other elites visited Lake Maggiore on the Grand Tour circuit (where young scholars from the UK and US embarked on expeditions from the 17th to 19th centuries to learn about European history and culture) and its 81 square miles are still hemmed with history. Its islands are also brimming with grand villas and those gardens — making the area ideal for leisurely afternoons, weekends and extended holidays.
Through Capitol Lifestyle Villas, Annette Kelly, Scott Kelly and Luca Porrini offer luxury villa rentals and personalized concierge services on Lake Maggiore and the surrounding area and smaller lakes. Capitol Lifestyle Villas' mission is to recreate the experience of the Grand Tour with luxury villas and tailored experiences. They not only set visitors up in highly curated villas — greeting them on arrival and remaining accessible throughout their stay — but also plan full itineraries for guests, helping them make the most of their time. Extraordinary experiences such as sunset champagne cruises, helicopter tours, supercar road rallies and private dinners with award-winning chefs are just a few examples of what you can experience on a CLV-organized trip.
When planning a trip to Lake Maggiore, these are some of the highlights the CLV team says you don’t want to miss.
Stresa
When arriving on Lake Maggiore, the first stop could be Stresa. For a town of about 4,000 residents, Stresa is filled with history. It was Ernest Hemingway’s hideaway in 1918 and part of his novel A Farewell to Arms is set in its Grand Hotel des Îles Borromées, where he was a guest (as is commemorated at the hotel’s Hemingway Bar). The hotel was also the site of the G7 Finance Summit in 2024. There’s good reason to visit Stresa from July to September, especially, when the Stresa Summer Festival is happening. Live music takes over the waterfront promenade and the islands that can be reached from Stresa’s port, as well as local churches and villas.
Borromean Islands
From Stresa’s shore, there’s a clear view of the Borromean Islands. The three islands of Bella, Madre and Pescatori (also known as Superiore) are so-called Borromean for their ownership by the aristocratic Milanese banking family who started buying the islands in the 16th century.
Bella was a rocky crag with a fishing village until it was transformed in the 17th century into a lavish palazzo and its attached terraced gardens in honor of Carlo III Boromeo’s wife Isabella d’Adda (the island’s namesake). The island lives up to its “bella” title: It’s designed with a whimsical series of gardens where peacocks roam and mazes of manicured bushes and tropical plants await exploration. Inside the palace (where the Borromeo family still lives in the private wings), gilt and seashell-encrusted rooms reveal the family’s opulent tastes. There are also lush gardens (though note that the Borromean gardens are seasonal and are closed through the fall and winter) on Madre, the largest of the three islands with rare and exotic plants, pools and ponds, and a palace to explore. There’s no garden on Pescatori, but it’s instead filled with quaint alleys, a few small hotels, waterfront restaurants and even a small 14th-century church that can be the ideal spot, as Annette Kelly says, for a destination wedding.
Verbania
Across the lake from the Borromean Islands and Stresa is Verbania. It, too, is known for its garden at Villa Taranto. The expansive botanical gardens are the dream come true of Scottish captain, Neil Mc Eacharn, who in the 1940s funded the construction of what he imagined as an English garden. With more than 3,000 types of plants, it’s perfect for a springtime stroll.
Santa Caterina del Sasso
A boat ride from Verbania or Stresa, the 14th-century hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso is perched on a cliff on the Lombardy side of the lake. It’s a bit of a trek to reach (it’s accessible by stairs, elevator or ferry), but the views are worth it. The history of the active monastery, where visitors can attend mass in a chapel with Baroque frescoes, is said to have begun when a cloth merchant, Albertus Besozzi, landed on a ridge after he survived a storm on the lake, and lived there as a hermit until he was driven to build a chapel. Given the picturesque location, it’s easy to see how he might have been inspired.
The size of Lake Maggiore makes it best explored by boat, or as Annette and Scott will even arrange for travelers — helicopter — for a true modern-day Grand Tour.
Capitol Lifestyle Villas are one of the few luxury villa rentals and exclusive services and itineraries companies in the Lake Maggiore area. Its team, with offices in Lake Maggiore, meets all guests and provides a seasonal buffet and full villa tour on arrival. Through CLV, Annette Kelly, Scott Kelly and Luca Porrini not only set visitors up with some of the most beautiful villas around Lake Maggiore they also are present throughout the trip to ensure memorable experiences for guests. CLV rentals and personalized and exclusive concierge services can also be tailored for weddings and events. To start planning your next trip or event with CLV, visit https://capitol-lifestylevillas.com/.
