Across Lake Maggiore from Stresa lies Verbania and the town of Pallanza. This is another destination one may reach by purchasing a ferry ticket with the Lake Maggiore Ferry transportation system.

Boat launch – Stresa, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Verbania

Since we had an extra day, we took a day trip there to discover if Pallanza had anything to offer and to visit the Gardens of Villa Taranto.

Looking toward Stresa – Lake Maggiore, Italy

Looking toward Pallanza – Lake Maggiore, Italy

Looking toward the tip of Verbania – Lake Maggiore, Italy

Looking toward Bevano – Lake Maggiore, Italy

Pallanza

There is not much to see here, though during our visit there was a lot of lake side construction, which not only blocked our view of things but made for a rather noisy visit. Hence, we did not stop here to eat anything.

The town is actually quite simple and the only things there that stand out are the Church of Saint Leonard and its bell tower, and a few World War I memorials.

War memorial – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Soldiers that died in WWI from the town – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Church tower – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Church of Saint Leonard – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy

The water show off the beach appeared a bit to much for a destination offering so little, but we took a photograph of it anyway.

The town’s welcome float – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy

After a quick tour of Pallanza, we attempted to walk to the Villa Taranto gardens. After about forty minutes of frustration with a well known map application, we decided to turn around and take the ferry instead, which has service to the gardens.

The gardens are completely walled off – Remigio – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Italians and their walls – Remigio – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Regardless what the phone application tries to tell you, you may not enter the gardens from any side other than from where the boat launch is, so do not try unless you want to walk on a state road or you want to waste a lot of your time trying. The entire garden is surrounded by immense walls or fences and all of the entry points are locked. I walked all the way up to the Oratory of Saint Remigio just to make sure.

Oratory of Saint Remigio – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Villa Taranto

Villa Taranto is the ferry stop right after Pallanza and before Intra. It is about a ten to fifteen minute ride from Pallanza, so we purchased a round trip ticket from Pallanza to Villa Taranto to make up the difference with our ticket from Stresa to Pallanza, since we would be taking the ferry directly back once we finished the gardens.

Tickets For Two – Villa Taranto Botanical Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

The Gardens

The gardens of Villa Taranto are very well kept and marked. Each section is dedicated to some specific type of flora or theme. The walkways are well maintained such that you will have no issues ascending the hill that the gardens are planted on.

Villa Taranto, or the Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Hydrangea – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Fountain in gardens – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Garden – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

The flora – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Tropical lillypads in greenhouse – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Small chapel – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

The chapel – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Itea ilicifolia or Chinese Sweet Spire – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Small bridge – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Grand lawn, fountain and out building – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

More flora – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Beautiful flowers – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

More flowers – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Flowers near pond – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Beautiful landscaping – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Monument to garden creator – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Architectural garden – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana or Lawson Cypress – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Erica or Heather – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

A small well – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Colorful flower mix – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Large conifers – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Restaurants

In Villa Taranto we ate at the bistro within the park, having no desire after a long walk through the gardens of venturing any further out.

Cafè & Bistrot

Nothing much to rave about here, it is just a simple bistro and cafe. In one section you may sit and enjoy a drink, in the other you may order lunch or whatever they are serving at the time, if they are open. For lunch, we just had a simple salad with tomatoes and Tropea onions and olive oil, along with some white wine on the side, which was very dry and very good.

Villa Sparina, Gavi di Gavi – Cafè & Bistrot – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy

Aside from the failed attempt to walk to Villa Taranto Gardens, the ferry and the gardens, saved what could have been a sweaty miserable afternoon looking at flowers. So after eating, we thoroughly enjoyed our boat trip back to Stresa and would commend others not to stop in Pallanza, but go straight to the gardens and perhaps even Intra later, if the traveling bug moves you so.