Verbano valleys

Mountains and lakes: two elements which meld into one and nurture one another in this area. Incredibly panoramic places give visitors the chance to range over the whole of Lake Maggiore and the Alps, taking in some of the best loved landscapes on the Lombard side of Verbano. Switzerland is just a stone’s throw away and the villages scattered across its wonderful meadows are the backdrop to some of its best loved local produce, such as Formaggella del Luinese cheese and Varese honey. Its beauties also include churches perched high above the lake, incredible panoramic terraces and little villages in which time seems to have stood still, such as Caldé – nicknamed ‘the Portofino of Lake Maggiore’ – and Arcumeggia, the famous Varese province painted village. Lake Delio, carved out by glaciers, with its dam, and Forcora, the Veddasca valley’s main peak, are the extreme edge of the province and a one of a kind place for a cycle ride with the ultimate in lake views.