The history of Lake Maggiore and the Islands on the Borromean Gulf unfolds from 1400 to today; in an intertwining of incredible situations dictated by the intelligence of the Borromeo counts, nobles, who from the fourteenth century on due to the approval of the Duchy of Milan, managed to create a fate of state that included a vast area from Arona to climb northwards to neighbouring Switzerland; Lake Mergozzo; Omegna; Vogogna; the Vigezzo valley and the part of the current province Varese, in the cities of Laveno and Angera.
There are hundreds of important people who gravitated as a part of the lake and left an indelible trace. Among the noteworthy are San Carlo Borromeo to whom the most famous statue in Europe is dedicated, more commonly known by the name of San Carlone, located just above Arona; Alessandro Manzoni who used to spend his time between Belgirate, Lesa and Stresa, in the company of his friend Antonio Rosmini, a prelate who did so much to the cultural growth of our reality; famous writers such as Goethe, Hemingway, Balzac.
Making our history known is important, not only to pass it on to new generations and not to forget, but to generate the spark that will allow them to ignite that fantasy which keeps the generous hospitality inherent in lake tour operators.
This is why the Borromean Islands Navigation Company develops and organises school trips in the name of culture. We offer visits with specialised guides to the three islands (Isola Bella, Isola Pescatori and Isola Madre) with access to the palaces and parks, visits to the nearby Villa Pallavicino which has a park with secular trees and animals to be admired in complete tranquillity, to the Rocca di Angera, where the Doll and Toy museums resides and the nearby Villa Taranto, an immense botanical garden.
