Lake Maggiore

In the 19th century, Lake Maggiore was a resort favoured by Italian and foreign aristocrats and celebrities, who spent their summers in magnificent villas and hotels on the lake shores. The list of famous guests ranges from Queen Victoria to Arturo Toscanini and the Saudi kings. The lake offered peace, mild weather and breathtaking views: the nearby Italian and Swiss Alps, as well as its many islands and picturesque villages, monuments and the renowned botanical gardens.
Local cuisine is the result of a long and varied history: the main influences are Piedmontese, Lombard -the lake being right between Lombardy and Piedmont- and international, since the most affluent families came accompanied by their own chefs, thus giving scores of local cooks, hired as helpers and apprentice, a chance to learn new techniques and recipes. Fish is a protagonist of local cuisine (as is rice, thanks to the proximity of Novara) and the mildness of the weather favours the growth of fruits and vegetables.