Page 138 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

136  THE LAKES OF NOR THERN IT AL Y

Lake Maggiore

With borders in Piedmont, Lombardy and the Ticino canton in Switzerland, Lake
Maggiore, or Verbano, is the second largest lake in Italy (212 sq km, 82 sq miles)
and has a maximum depth of 372 m (1,220 ft). For the most part it is fed and
drained by the Ticino river, and is also fed by the Toce. The towns around the
shore were embellished with churches and paintings from
1449 onwards, thanks to the wealthy Borromeo family,
and with villas and gardens in the 18th–19th
centuries. The opening of the Simplon pass and
the introduction of ferry services (1826) helped Magaduno
trade to develop in the area.
Vira
Locarno J
San Nazzaro
J
Gerra-
Ascona Gambarogno
Sant’Abbondio
Porto
Ronco Isola di
5 . Isole Brissago
Borromee Brissago
Of the three islands, J Maccagno
the best known is Isola
Bella, named after Luino
Isabella d’Adda, wife Gannero
of Charles III Borromeo. Cannobio J Riviera

Porto
J
Pieggio Veltravaglia
J
The two castles of Malpaga, built in the J
13th–14th century on two islets at the foot
of Mount Carza, belonged to the Mazzardites, J
the pirates who raided the lake. Ghiffa
J

Intra
4 Stresa Verbania J
This old fishermen’s village
began to become a tourist
attraction thanks to the
descriptions of famous
writers such as Stendhal, Isola
Byron and Dickens. Madre
J Baveno

. Villa Taranto
One of Italy’s best-known botanic gardens was
founded here in 1931 by an Englishman called
McEacharn in an area of about 16 ha (40 acres).
Many examples of species of plants from all
over the world, including Victoria amazonica,
are grown here (see p140).

136-137_EW_Milan.indd 136 20/10/16 3:20 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm