A Weekend on Lake Maggiore

A weekend on Lake Maggiore

Hiii, I got back on Sunday evening from our little weekend. I had a wonderful time, even though sadly the time flew by… how I wished time would stand still in those moments.

We were in Baveno, staying at Casa Maria. Baveno is a very small village on Lake Maggiore, but plenty of boats leave from there for the islands. We saw Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Bella; in my opinion the first is the loveliest in its simplicity, with a few little shops selling handicrafts — it's all very compact, almost like a miniature nativity scene. If I may offer a tip on where to eat: on the island it really costs a lot, so either bring your own sandwiches, or there's a little shop down one of the inner lanes that sells a bit of everything, from sweets to sandwiches, and then you go for a walk where, under big weeping willows, you'll manage to eat something (local cats permitting):-).

Isola Bella is very different, though, with this huge Bourbon palace at its centre, full of gardens that, for that matter, we didn't visit because of the excessive cost, plus lots of shops and above all plenty of restaurants. Around it are narrow little alleys climbing to the top of the hill.

In the evening we dined at a very unusual little restaurant, Siddartha — Indian-style from the outside, and inside the owner, an Indian guy, will serve you both typical Indian dishes and Italian dishes. It's a very quiet little place with background music, and what's unusual is the water bowls with little fish inside on every table!!

The last place we visited is a wonderful spot, very much like a zoo built inside the park of a villa: Villa Pallavicino, an enchanting place set in the greenery of a Genoese-style garden, where there are 40 species of animals you can admire and — careful — even stroke, thanks to a little revolving gate that lets visitors inside the enclosures. The animals you can stroke are the typical farm ones, from the little goats to the sheep, which come in herds to be petted!!!! You can also quietly approach the bambi, though they're very timid… inside the park there's both a covered picnic area and a bar at the top of the hill. It's an enchanting place, I swear I'd never have left if only I lived nearby…

bye, till next time!!!

meme