Lake Maggiore Private Local Experiences

Lake Maggiore 

When Hemingway first came to Stresa, in 1918 at the age of 19, to spend a week's convalescent leave, he claimed that lake Maggiore was one of the most beautiful of the Italian lakes.....and you can believe him!

Sophisticated and glittering, modern and traditional, lake Maggiore is a place like no other.

Its dramatic coastlines offer well-preserved and beautifully adorned towns and villages. The views are spectacular: magnificent mountains and hills, old villas and luxuriant gardens, historic hotels and palaces.                       

Just some of the reasons why artists and poets fell in love with lake Maggiore. 

Thanks to isola Bella's amazing palace and gardens, lake Maggiore was one of the must-see stops during the 16th, 17th and 18th-centuries grand tour.

The western shore of this lake lies in the Italian region called Piemonte - Piedmont - while the eastern shore is in Lombardia - Lombardy. There's a part of lake Maggiore which is in Switzerland (the northern end).

Located at a relatively short distance from Milan, lake Maggiore became a favourite summer retreat for the aristocracy especially from the 19th century, when most villas and beautiful gardens were established.