Cities on Lake
, Lake Maggiore
Picturesque old towns, famous sacral buildings,
Italian flair: the cities on Lake Maggiore
The cities on Lake Maggiore
Vacations on Lake Maggiore at Lakeview Cannobio Camping & Resort offer a variety of opportunities to gain lasting impressions and fall in love with the area. We present here particularly beautiful towns or villages that are located near Lakeview Cannobio and are always worth a visit!
Stresa
Stresa is a beautiful village on Lake Maggiore, just under an hour from Cannobio. From Stresa, you can
a beautiful view of the Borromean Islands.
Stresa is located on the Borromean Gulf of Lake Maggiore. The village is first mentioned in history books in the tenth century, but it is highly likely that the site where the village stands today was settled much earlier.
A stroll down the main street or along the lake shows that Stresa has managed to preserve its aristocratic charm. Notable sights include the Villa Ducale, the oldest in the town, where Antonio Rosmini, a great Italian thinker, once resided, and the Villa Pallavicino, whose park preserves the area’s flora and fauna.
They say you haven’t truly been to Stresa until you’ve climbed the small mountain behind it, the Mottarone. Many meters below, but still overlooking the town from above, is the Sky Bar at the Hotel La Palma.
From Stresa, you can take tourist boats to visit the Borromean Islands—a must-see for travelers interested in castles and magnificent gardens.
Ascona, the Pearl of Ticino
Ascona, about a 15-minute drive from Cannobio, is considered the “Pearl of Lake Maggiore.” Its sunny and welcoming atmosphere makes this historic and colorful village truly unique. Ascona is part of the Swiss canton of Ticino and is located near the mouth of the Maggia River, in a magnificent bay on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore.
This unique location offers a special Mediterranean climate, which, combined with a tradition of tourism dedicated to hospitality, makes Ascona an ideal place for your vacation to explore the lake and the Ticino valleys. The historic center, known as the “Borgo,” is the perfect place to enjoy a coffee and stroll among the many shops in search of a fashionable item, while the view of the lake from the beautiful promenade—with its colorful facades, palm trees, benches, and numerous bars and restaurants is undoubtedly the symbol of Ascona. From here, you can also board a boat to reach the main destinations on Lake Maggiore.
Locarno
2,300 hours of sunshine a year and a church built after an apparition of the Virgin Mary: that’s Locarno, located on the northern
Shore of Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore) located city with the mildest climate in Switzerland. A good 20min from Lakeview Cannobio and always worth a visit!
The typical Mediterranean trees, such as palm trees and lemon trees in the heart of Locarno, are responsible for the atmosphere that characterizes the city. The heart of the city is the Piazza Grande, which is known worldwide thanks to the “Festival del Film Locarno,” held there every year. The square is also the meeting point for all the narrow alleys of the old town. On the edge of Locarno’s historic center stands the 12th-century Castello Visconteo, about one-fifth of which remains in its original condition. Magnificent palaces house art collections, and ancient arcades invite visitors to shop. And above Locarno, in Orselina, stands the Madonna del Sasso pilgrimage church, a sanctuary dating back to an apparition of the Virgin Mary. The church is the city’s main tourist attraction and offers a fantastic view of the city, the lake, and the mountains.
The Lido Locarno, overlooking Lake Maggiore, offers an extraordinary variety of recreational activities for adults and children, including various indoor and outdoor swimming pools, water slides, hot tubs, a children’s playground, a fitness area, and a brand-new wellness center and spa.
Baveno
This beautiful town on Lake Maggiore (about 50 minutes from Cannobio), which is also known for its pink granite quarries, is a popular destination. It attracts foreign tourists in particular, who fill the numerous campgrounds in the area during the summer season. The famous lakeside garden, from which you can enjoy an enchanting view of the Borromean Gulf and the Lombard shore all the way to Laveno Bay, is known throughout the world.
In the historic center of the village, just a stone’s throw from the boulevard, lies Baveno’s church square, featuring the parish church of Saints Gervasio and Protasio (Chiesa dei SS Gervasio e Protasio) and a baptistery. On one side of the square is a gallery with beautifully decorated arches and some lovely frescoes. The local tourist information office is also located on this square. Classical concerts are regularly held in the parish church.
Baveno is famous for its pink granite from Monte Casmoscio. Many famous buildings around the world were constructed using granite from this quarry. On the lakeside promenade of Lake Baveno, across from the harbor, stands Villa Branca: it was built between 1871 and 1872 in a style that imitates English Gothic architecture. The chalet is surrounded by greenery and stands out for its size; the park also features a mock castle ruin, built in 1882–1883.
Laveno-Mombello
The cozy atmosphere of Laveno-Mombello is enhanced by the azure-blue lake and the greenery of the forests
overgrown hills and the majestic profile of the mountain with its rocky cliffs created opposite the water. This is a very romantic place where you can walk along the countless paths that lead up the mountain ridges, admiring unforgettable panoramas. The bucket cableway is a very special experience: in open buckets you can reach the top of Monte Sasso del Ferro from Laveno and enjoy a wonderful view far beyond Stresa.
Laveno is one of the most famous and visited towns on the Lombardy shore. On the evening of August 15, an extraordinary fireworks display will take place on Lake Maggiore in front of Laveno. Numerous recreational captains take advantage of this large-scale fireworks display to marvel from the lake on their boats.
Verbania
The provincial capital, located about 35 minutes from Cannobio, is the town with the most lodging options.
The large harbor is a testament to the importance this city has always held for shipping, and it also features a car ferry service connecting the Piedmontese city of Verbania with the Lombard coast. Since the city has close ties to the art of gardening, numerous events dedicated to camellias, azaleas, orchids, and tulips take place during the blooming season.
Verbania also offers a wide variety of shopping options: large supermarkets as well as fashion and handicrafts in the narrow alleys of the Intra district. Insider tip: at Casa del Dolci next to the church in Intra, you’ll find the best dolci (sweet pastries) far and wide!
Luino
Luino is a town located just a few kilometers from the Swiss border. It lies between 193 and 630 meters above sea level and is about an hour’s drive from Cannobio. The town of Luino is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore. It is the largest town on the Lombard side of the lake. The town is situated at the mouth of the Tresa River.
The impressive rows of trees surrounding the old town give the town a special character. These trees were planted during the Napoleonic era. For decades, Luino was an important center for many industries and remains a major producer of textiles to this day. In recent years, however, many of the old industrial brownfields have been redeveloped. The lakeside promenade has now been transformed into a very beautiful spot, attractively redeveloped with cafes and playgrounds.
Luino is famous for its weekly market, which takes place every Wednesday. It is the largest weekly market on Lake Maggiore. From Cannobio you can easily reach this market by scheduled boat, or much faster: by cab boat, which docks at the beginning of the Cannobio promenade and can also be booked there.
Feriolo
Feriolo is a popular tourist destination, especially in the summer months. The village is particularly popular because of the many campsites that can be found near the village. In the evening, the village comes alive when campers go to one of the restaurants in the village or eat an ice cream in a gelateria. From the waterfront in Feriolo you have a beautiful view of Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands.
However, Feriolo is already an ancient village that was inhabited since Roman times. The remains of the castle of Feriolo are a reminder of this. In the middle of the nineteenth century, two disasters occurred in the village. On the one hand, a landslide in 1876 caused a large part of the village to sink to the bottom of Lake Maggiore. The remains of the disappeared houses can still be seen today at a depth of about eighteen meters. A year later, the village was hit by the next catastrophe. The village was largely under water because of the high water level of the lake. The water level of that day can still be seen at the village church. The water level was seven meters higher than normal that day.
Questions and answers
Places worth visiting include Stresa, Ascona, Locarno, Baveno, Laveno-Mombello, Verbania, Luino, and Feriolo.