natura

Lake Maggiore, with its valleys and hills, is one of the greenest areas in all of Italy.

The region is home to several national and regional parks, including the Val Grande National Park, the largest wilderness area in Italy; the Alpe Veglia and Devero Regional Park; and the Macugnaga Wildlife Oasis, set at the foot of Monte Rosa.

Here you’ll also find some of Piedmont’s most striking natural wonders: the Toce Waterfall, with its spectacular 143-meter drop—the highest in Europe; the Orridi di Uriezzo, a series of dramatic gorges carved by mountain streams in the Antigorio Valley; and the breathtaking views over Lake Maggiore from Monte Morissolo.

The Piedmont shore of the lake is dotted with numerous nature reserves, such as the Fondotoce Nature Reserve in Verbania, the Lagoni di Mercurago Natural Park in Arona, and the Dormelletto Nature Reserve. Not to be missed is the Ticino Park, accessible from the towns of Castelletto Ticino and Sesto Calende.

There are also WWF Oases, including Pian dei Sali in the Vigezzo Valley and Bosco Tenso in Premosello Chiovenda.

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The camellia, the flower which has become the emblem of Lake Maggiore, is celebrated every December on the occasion of the National Winter Camellia Show. Held in Villa Giulia, the...
Camellias originated in Japan, but this decorative flower has found its ideal climate and terrain on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Planted for the first time on Isola Madre in...
The Fondotoce Reed Bed is one of the last remaining on the western shore of Lake Maggiore, and is part of the Fondotoce Nature Reserve, which was set up in...
Val Grande is the largest wilderness in Europe (14,598 hm), an unspoilt island of mountains and valleys with fascinating and mysterious places among canyons, precipices, dense woods and breathtaking views....
The Veglia-Devero Natural Park, a complex of high valleys enclosed by the Antigorio, Divedro and Formazza Valleys, is one of the loveliest places in this area and in the whole...
The lovely lakeside town of Arona near the southern end of Lake Maggiore has a number of magnificent mansion houses surrounded by extensive gardens bright with flowers. The first of...
The “Navigazione del Lago Maggiore”, the Lake Maggiore Boat Service, is a government-run company with a large fleet that can guarantee communications and transport throughout the lake. Visitors to Lake...
Some of the most interesting caves in the Strona Valley are found near the hamlet of Sambughetto, including the so-called “Witches’ Cave”. This white marble cave is a favourite with...
Isola Pescatori (Fishermen’s Island), or Upper Island because of its more northerly situation than the other islands in the Gulf, is the most picturesque of the Borromean Islands, as well...
A visit to the botanical gardens on the Brissago Islands is a must for any trip to the area. The gardens are home to a large number of sub-tropical flowers...
Villa Toeplitz was built towards the end of the 19th century on a hill in the Varese district of Sant’Ambrogio Olona, in the centre of a complex of orchards and...
A sign of the civilization of a people must be their capacity to preserve the resources of their territory, regarding them not as an obstacle to “development” but as an...
Created in the sixteenth-century as a country villa, the Villa della Porta Bozzolo later became a noble company residence and was enhanced, in the first half of the 18th century,...
Water is the leitmotiv of this itinerary, designed for visitors to explore the treasures of Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta and the Alpine lakes of the loveliest valleys of the Verbano...
The Cusio area surrounding Lake Orta has many opulent villas and splendid gardens; these were mainly the summer residences of aristocratic families and families of the entrepreneurial bourgeoisie from Piedmont...
The Veglia-Devero Natural Park, a complex of high valleys enclosed by the Antigorio, Divedro and Formazza Valleys, is one of the loveliest places in this area and in the whole...
The Estense Palace Gardens of Varese are among the finest in the north of Italy, and remain one of the main tourist attractions of the city. The park surrounds the...
Villa Recalcati was built in the 17th century as a summer residence for the aristocratic Milanese families who came on holiday to enjoy the wonderful scenery of the area. The...

Latest news from the Upper Piedmont

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Fanny Usellini Museum: a new museum opens in Arona

26 September 2026
17 September 2026
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With 556 paintings and works ranging from futurism to American and African art, including works by Andy Warhol, de Chirico, Guttuso, and Dalì, on Saturday, September 26th, a new museum...

Bettelmatt 2026 is Ready, the Excellence of Alpine Cheese

15 September 2026
15 September 2026
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Bettelmatt 2026 production, an excellence among alpine cheeses, is ready to be enjoyed on the tables of gourmets and lovers of good cheese. In September, as every year, the branding...

Foliage Train: a autumn journey between Italy and Switzerland

10 October 2026
8 September 2026
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Starting October 10th until November 15th, 2026, the Foliage Train returns, an initiative by the Vigezzina Centovalli Railway to mark the arrival of autumn, a period when the train route...

Walking through the Novara Hills to experience the colors of autumn

20 August 2026
20 August 2026
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After last year’s success, Itinerarium returns to organize the Walk of the Novara Hills with 5 stages to discover magnificent places in Upper Piedmont with the colors of autumn. The...

Ciclovia del Mare: third place at the "Green Road Award"

24 June 2026
24 June 2026
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The “Ciclovia del Mare” itinerary proposed by the Piedmont Region ranked third place ex aequo at the Green Road Award, the Italian Oscar of cycle tourism. The Ciclovia del Mare...

Colossus: the zipline that runs at a height of 150m above the Poala Valley

16 June 2026
16 June 2026
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Colossus was recently inaugurated, the zipline that runs at a height of 150m above the Poala Valley, starting in Veglio and arriving in the municipality of Valdilana. The route is...

Opening Times of the Toce Waterfall 2026

26 May 2026
26 May 2026
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From Tuesday, June 2nd, it will again be possible to admire the Toce Waterfall, in the Formazza Valley, in all its power. The Toce Waterfall will remain open until Sunday,...

Chagall's art returns to Vercelli in October

18 May 2026
18 May 2026
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In October, an exhibition dedicated to the art of Marc Chagall will open in Vercelli, set within the aisles of the former church of San Marco. The provisional title of...

Sacro Monte di Domodossola: launch of the reception and guided tours service

5 May 2026
5 May 2026
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The reception and guided tours service for the months of May and June 2026 restarts at the Sacro Monte Calvario in Domodossola. From May 1st to June 28th, every Saturday,...

Villa Taranto: 2026 Season

23 February 2026
23 February 2026
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Starting from March 6, 2026, earlier than in previous years, it will once again be possible to visit the Villa Taranto Botanical Gardens, which will remain open until November 1....