Believed to be the largest of the pre-Alpine lakes, hence the name “Maggiore,” Lake Maggiore is glacial in origin and its shores bathe Lombardy, Piedmont and Switzerland. Among the beauties of this lake are its islands, as many as 11, 8 of which are in Piedmont and 1 in Lombardy. Between Stresa and Verbania, of great charm is the Borromean Islands archipelago with Isola Madre, Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori. Always a source of inspiration for literates, artists, musicians and writers from all over Europe who made it a destination on the Grand Tour in the 19th century, the Verbano territories are still recognized today as a destination for élite tourism. Also characteristic are the three cliffs known as the Castles of Cannero with the remains of the Vitaliana fortress commissioned by Count Ludovico Borromeo. Also not to be missed in addition to the islet of La Malghera and Isolino Partegora, the beautiful Isolino di San Giovanni opposite Verbania, where, in the 17th-century Palazzo Borromeo, Arturo Toscanini lived for a long time. Splendid villas and imposing fortresses and castles rise around the lake and on its islands and testify to the history and culture that enrich this place with charm. Among the villas, of interest are the Borromeo Palaces on Isola Madre and Isola Bella, the 18th-century Villa Ponti in Arona, and Villa Treves, in Belgirate, in which Gabriele D'Annunzio and Giovanni Verga were among its guests. In Stresa there are Villa Ducale and Villa Pallavicino with its zoological park, while beautiful Verbania is home to many splendid villas such as Villa Giulia, Villa Taranto and nearby Villa San Remigio. Nature lovers will find Lake Maggiore the ideal place to spend their vacations thanks to the existence of countless botanical gardens, including that of Villa Taranto with more than 1,000 plants, the 40,000-square-meter Alpinia, the Camelia Park in Locarno and gardens located on the various islands. There are also many nature reserves such as the Val Grande National Park and the Ticino Valley Nature Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. For sports lovers, Lake Maggiore represents a natural paradise. Around the lake you can enjoy sports such as hiking, mountain biking, skiing, golf, and horseback riding, surrounded by natural landscapes of rare beauty. The waters of the lake then provide the ideal environment for sailing, canoeing, yachting, water skiing, and diving activities. A visit to the Mottarone peak, a popular ski resort, is not to be missed. Lake Maggiore is also a place rich in spirituality, so in Leggiuno there is the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, reached by a steep flight of steps, while along the slopes of Mount Cargiago, there is the Sacro Monte di Ghiffa, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and in Orsellina you can visit the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso, dating from the late 15th century.