Italy/Switzerland: Lago Maggiore
A climate like that of the Côte d´Azur has created exotic islands in the clear mountain waters of Lago Maggiore, both in Italy and Switzerland. Man included castles and baroque palaces, to which villas, gardens and grand hotels were added during the Belle Époque. A wonderful spring destination.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01593] While in high season tourists are trapped in the traffic on the road circling Lago Maggiore, a few hundred meters up you'll find perfect quietness. Take a hike and share the marvellous panoramas with the goats. The Alto Verbano offers the best slopes for such walks. Photo taken near Piancavallo by Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01677] The 'beautiful island', main sight of the Lago Maggiore, is a man made piece of art. And its garden has no double in the world. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01736] The best spot for looking down on Lago Maggiore and the Borromeo Islands is the Giardino Botanico Alpinia, a short walk from the Alpino cable car station above Stresa. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01567] At this spot the shore of Lago Maggiore so much resembles the French Riviera that in the end it was called after it. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01602] While in high season tourists are trapped in the traffic on the road circling Lago Maggiore, a few hundred meters up you'll find perfect quietness. The Alto Verbano, here near Piancavallo, offers the best slopes for a hike. Photo Paul Smit.
ITALY.PIEMONTE 01609] Not only on the islands, on the shores of Lago Maggiore you encounter gardens as well. The one of Villa Taranto, situated on a peninsula between Intra and Pallanza, was designed by a Scottish officer. He loved brash colours, like the violent purple of this hibiscus (probably Hibiscus moscheutos 'Fireball'). Photo Paul Smit.
ITALY.PIEMONTE 01622] An Irish paintress and her poet/musician from Napoli designed the garden around Villa San Remigio in Pallanza. Here English and Italian styles mix. The decay adds to the visual poetry. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01628] Landing stage of Baveno at the Lago Maggiore in art nouveau style. Baveno and Stresa were famous lakeside resorts during the Belle Époque. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01634] Stresa, at the shores of Lago Maggiore, is a lakeside resort of the Belle Époque. In the 'Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées', its centerpiece, the era of plush and marmor never ended. Photo Paul Smit.
Sunrise over Isola dei Pescatori.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01644] The only true village of the Borromeo Islands is situated on Isola dei Pescatori, the Fishermen's Island. Once only the fishermen from this island had the right to fish in the Lago Maggiore. Nowadays the inhabitants catch tourists in their fishrestaurants and souvenirshops. Between 11 am and 5 pm it's a kermis, but beyond and out of season it has lost little of its charm. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01652] The view over the lago Maggiore from the breakfast terrace of Hotel Verbano is wide, since it is situated on the tip of Isola dei Pescatori, the fishermen's island. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01659] Tourists enjoy the evening on the Lago Maggiore from a traditional "barcone". Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01662] The 'beautiful island', main sight of the Lago Maggiore, is a man made piece of art. The garden is an ode to rationality, typical for the baroque. Strong geometry and symmetry typify the terraces rising high above the lake, adorned with statues and balustrades. At the same time the garden breathes surrealism. Photo Paul Smit.
In the gardens of Isola Bella.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01684] View over Lago Maggiore from the gardens of Isola Bella, indeed the 'beautiful island.' Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.LOMBARDIA 01809] The Santa Caterina hermitage is built on a breathtaking spot halfway up a cliff over Lago Maggiore. Here a hermit once retreated in a cave. He helped people with spiritual advise and medical care. Asking what he wanted in return he said "a chapel." Later a church and small monastery grew from it, still occupied by several lay brothers and sisters plus one friar and open to visitors. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01585] An angler has just returned in the little port of Cannobio from a tour on the Lago Maggiore. It's the hour the tourists are looking for a place to eat. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01591] The old port of Cannero-Riviera, that part of the Lago Maggiore shore where it resembles most the French Riviera. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01606] Not only on the islands, on the shores of Lago Maggiore you encounter gardens as well. The one of Villa Taranto, situated on a peninsula between Intra and Pallanza, was designed by a Scottish officer. Its flower beds stand in close order. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01618] An Irish paintress and her poet/musician from Napoli designed the garden around Villa San Remigio in Pallanza. Here English and Italian styles mix. The light decay adds to the visual poetry. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01623] After sunset sauntering is the thing to do along the boulevard of Pallanza, the prettiest town of the Verbania municipality. Although the saunterers have vanished in the long photo exposure, the film did register other typical mediterranean lakeshore ingredients. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01630] Stresa, at the shores of Lago Maggiore, is a lakeside resort of the Belle Époque. In the 'Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées', its centerpiece, the era of plush and marmor never ended. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01640] The only true village of the Borromeo Islands is situated on Isola dei Pescatori, the Fishermen's Island. Once only the fishermen from this island had the right to fish in the Lago Maggiore. Nowadays the inhabitants catch tourists in their fishrestaurants and souvenirshops. Between 11 am and 5 pm it's a kermis, but beyond and out of season it has lost little of its charm. Photo Paul Smit.
Angler at Isola dei Pescatori.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01650] Trying to catch an early morning fish at Isola dei Pescatori, the Fishermen's Island in Lago Maggiore. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01656] View from the breakfast terrace of Hotel Verbano at Isola dei Pescatori in the Lago Maggiore, looking towards Isola Bella. Photo Paul Smit.
[ITALY.PIEMONTE 01661] The 'beautiful island', main sight of the Lago Maggiore, is a man made piece of art. The garden is an ode to rationality, typical for the baroque. Strong geometry and symmetry typify the terraces rising high above the lake, adorned with statues and balustrades. At the same time the garden breathes surrealism. Photo Paul Smit.