Lago Maggiore, July 17-18

Although we're back home in Washington, D.C., there are a few more posts to do after our departure from Torino to Stresa, a small town on Lago Maggiore. Then perhaps another on our stay in the Parco Naturale dell'Alpe Veglia, where our friends, Giovanni & M. Giovanna have a summer cabin.

Lago Maggiore is one of the larger lakes in Northern Italy, in Lombardia (Lago Garda is larger), but perhaps the most beautiful since it has picturesque islands that you can easily visit from Stresa. 

David & Yi at Lago Maggiore with Isola Bella 

There's Isola Bella, with its Baroque Palace and gardens, replete with white peacocks wandering around. We had been to Isola Bella some years ago, so we didn't visit this time. Another close-by island is Isola Superiore dei Pescatori; as the name implies, this was (and still is to a lesser degree) an island of fishermen. It has narrow cobblestone streets, and is loaded with tourists since it is only about a 5 minute boat ride from the lake shore. Again, we had been to Isola dei Pescatori in 2000, so we didn't visit this time, but our boat ride to Villa Taranto stopped at these two islands to drop off and pick up passengers.

Isola Bella

Isola Superiore dei Pescatori

Our lake cruise took us to Villa Taranto, where there is an incredible garden with everything from hydrangeas to Sequioas. The garden is in Verbania-Pallanza, which made headlines a few months ago because the world's oldest woman, Emma Morano, lived to the age of 117; she died on April 15, 2017. Having stayed in Stresa for a few days, I can certainly say that Lago Maggiore is a tranquil place; I think this had something to do with Emma's longevity.

The garden, Giardini Botanici Villa Taranto was developed by a Scotsman, Neil McEacharn, and opened in 1952. The gardens include 3,000 species of plants. 

Villa Taranto Garden