Lake Maggiore or Verbano is the second largest lake in Italy after lake Garda. The lake basin has tectonic-glacial origins and for the most part is Italian, but the northerly section belongs to Switzerland.
For many years it has been one of the busiest means of communication, with its ideal connections to the Po valley and the alpine valleys, this has made it a preferred destination for the first aristocratic tourists and the holiday resort developers, favoured also by the mild climate and the variety of the landscape.
From the calm waters of the lake it is possible to reach the fascinating Val Grande, the most extensive wild area of Italy, or the internal valleys where some of the most antique traditions still survive.