This half-day tour whisks you away to two of three Borromean Islands in Lake Maggiore. You'll stroll around the cobbled streets of Isola dei Pescatori and admire the palace on Isola Bella, which has seen past visits from Napoleon, Winston Churchill, Princess Diana and Prince Charles.
After a quick boat trip on the glass-like waters of Lake Maggiore, you'll arrive at the shores of tiny Isola dei Pescatori – it's barely 500m long by 100m wide. As the only island that's inhabited year-round, you'll be able to wander among its tiered, narrow alleys lined with plant-bedecked houses.
Then, it's off to Isola Bella, which means ‘Beautiful Island'. And it's got a showstopper of a baroque palace as well as tiered Italianate gardens, inspired by the hanging gardens of Babylon. The shell-encrusted grottoes on the lower floor are well worth a look, too. This island, in particular, has seen many famous footsteps on its shores, from royalty to notable players from the history books.
Boat cruise
