Lake Maggiore Golf District

The Lake Maggiore extends between the areas of Varese, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Novara and Switzerland. Between the romantic town of Stresa and Verbania there are the renowned Borromean Islands: Isola Bella, Isola Madre, Isola Superiore dei Pescatori, Isolino di San Giovanni and Scoglio della Malghera, also called “Dolls’ Island”. The Isola Bella is a very interesting destination, entirely occupied by the magnificent Palazzo Borromeo and its Italianate garden. Noteworthy is also the Isolino di San Giovanni, in front of Verbania, whose Palazzo Borromeo hosted the musician Arturo Toscanini; the Isolino Pantegora, in the little gulf of Angera. Other towns near the lake have interesting characters: from the lakeshore on the gulf of Laveno it is possible to admire the islands and the Alps; Leggiuno hosts the monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso (XII century), built on a cliff over the lake.
In the area of the Lake Maggiore there are also thermal baths such as in Trasquera, Craveggia, Premia and Vanzone.
Polenta, alpine cheese sorts such as the Bettelmatt, meat dishes, rye bread and little chestnut flour gnocchi, together with the white wines of Novara hills: these and other specialties offers the traditional cooking on the Lake Maggiore. Many are also the lake fish dishes, perch above all. In autumn the many mushrooms are cooked following traditional recipes.