Verbania, the 'garden on the lake'

Located just 91 kilometers from Milan and 40 kilometers from Locarno, Switzerland, today we are in Verbania. This pretty lakeside town, located on Lake Maggiore is also called 'garden on the lake'. The city, which stands on a promontory that juts out into the lake, giving us splendid views, has a spectacular botanical garden that covers 16 hectares and has more than 20,000 species of plants from all over the world. In addition to the breathtaking views, Verbania is full of attractions to visit. Let's start by discovering the main villas: let's start with Villa Remigio, an eclectic but graceful villa built as a refuge for lovers in 1800. We then visit Villa Giulia, a neoclassical beauty with well-kept gardens full of greenery, quiet corners and beautiful views and Villa Taranto , built by a Scottish captain who installed an elaborate and first English garden. Do not miss the Renaissance Church of the Madonna di Campagna, the Romanesque Oratory of San Remigio with 11th century frescoes and a graceful portico, the museum of Palazzo Dugnani which preserves Roman tablets and Lombard frescoes and the Diocesan Museum of Palazzo Biumi -Innocenti, which exhibits religious folk art and devotional votives. We say goodbye to the city by taking the ferry to reach the Borromean Islands.