Lake Maggiore Islands Half Day Tour

This half day tour is a sampler of the islands in the Borromean gulf of Lake Maggiore. Ever since the days of the Grand Tour, these islands have been dazzling visitors with the sheer impossibility of their existence. I first saw them 25 years ago, and still remember the awe that I felt. Breathtaking scenery, exotic gardens, and a unique microclimate at the foot of the Alps which I like to call "the Garden of Eden". Isola Bella, the Beautiful Island, with its stunning palace and lavish gardens tells the story of the historic rulers of the lake: the Borromeo family, who own the island to this day. Isola Pescatori, the Fisherman's Island, is home to a community of 'isolani' (islanders), in a village full of quaint alleyways, shops and fishing boats. This tour is an easy detour off the A26 highway if you are travelling from Milan to the Simplon Pass, Switzerland.