Lake Maggiore is the westernmost of the three big Prealpine lakes in Europe and second only to Lake Garda in terms of size. It is located on Italian and Swiss territory. It is 66 km long with an area of 212.5 km2. Its tributaries are the Toce, Maggia and Ticino rivers. It is surrounded by the Prealps of Lombardy and Piedmont. The eastern bank of the lake is in Lombardy and the western in Piedmont. The climate is mild in all seasons. The lakeside region features beautiful gardens, where rare and exotic plants are cultivated. The main cities on the lake are Locarno, Arona, Verbania and Luino.

Sports
Snow
Lake Maggiore becomes a ski paradise during the winter with bountiful snow everywhere. Alpine skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing have been practiced throughout the area for many years. Winter sports champion Massimiliano Blardone acquired his skills in this region. The lake area was a famous winter resort as early as the beginning of the 20th century. Recently snowboarding has grown in popularity. The village of Riale, located in upper Val Formazza, has hosted racing seasons in the discipline of cross-country skiing for many years. The lake basin is located at an altitude of 200 m, while the peak in the area is on Monte Rosa at 4000 m above sea level. The elevations in between ensure excellent slopes and skiing conditions. Another traditional event in the area is the Italian Ski Mountaineering Championship dedicated to distinguished skier Schranz, who won a gold metal in the 1936 Winter Olympics. The starting point of the race is Bannio Anzino at an altitude of 700 m. Racers continue toward Cresta, at around 2000 m, and then back downhill. The total elevation difference is 1500 m.

Another famous race is the King Cross-country in Val Vigezzo, which translates as the painters valley. This is a picturesque, scenic region, as the name suggests. There are several downhill and cross-country runs that pass through glades, pinewoods and snowy forests. You can go snowshoeing alone or with an expert guide. You will relish the opportunity to walk through the tranquil woods in contact with unspoiled and peaceful nature. The Consortium Guide Wilderness of Vco territory offers guided trips and a snowshoeing course for beginners. This is not just a lesson it is a unique chance for a memorable trip across the majestic summits of Mottarone. Air The notion of flying over this beautiful lake may seem like a dream, but it is nothing short of reality. The mountain ranges encircling the lake offer a wide variety of take-off sites for hand gliding and paragliding. Gliding enthusiasts can take advantage of the innumerable airports equipped for elevation ascent.

Ground
If youre not a risk taker by heart, traditional and old-fashioned ground sports are the best option. Ground sports practiced in the lakeside region include golf, horseback riding, cycling, mountain biking, off-road, trekking and more. Road cyclists are presented with an endless choice of routes in the valleys and mountains. Horse lovers can choose between the stables at Domodossola, Val Vigezzo or Santa Maria Maggiore. Fun two-day rides are available at Domodossola. There are two golf courses in Stresa, one of which dates back to 1924. The other one, an 18-hole course, offers a view as far as the highest buildings in Milan on clear days. Trekkers will delight in the scenery - gentle green hills next to majestic peaks at over 4000 m above sea level. There are many standard paths, which are considered easy routes, as well as verticals and rocky slopes that assure an unforgettable ascent in real Alpine style. The Pre-alpine and alpine ranges surrounding the lake offer hundreds of kilometers of trekking paths. There are many itineraries with well-equipped, inviting rest stops. You can always ask a guide to accompany you if you do not feel safe on your own.

Water
Options include sailing, wild water rafting, kite surfing, wind surfing, canoeing and, of course, swimming. There are four boat clubs in the area Intra, Omegna, Pallanza, and Pettenasco. The Belgirate Regatta Club is a formidable institution in the region, established in 1885. There are many areas where you can practice wind based water sports and rent all kinds of equipment. The popularity of kayaking and canoeing has been rising in recent years. Lake Maggiore is very suitable for these sports. Dont place too great a focus on the lake surface though that way youll miss out on scuba diving and the chance to discover underwater worlds. You can descend as deep down as 300 meters if youre an expert diver, of course. Lake Maggiore has prepared many teams for international regattas. One is the local Altea Sailing Crew, an excellent team that came in third in the European Championships in Torquay.

Thermal baths
You shouldnt miss the health treatments the lake offers. Mineral water sources and thermal baths have always been typical of the area. Spa resorts include Crodo, Trasquera, Premia, and Craveggia. Premia is an excellent modern center with capacity for 150 visitors a day. The lakeside regions fame as a treatment center goes back to the mid-19th century.

Culture and Attractions
Music
Lake Maggiore hosts a number of world-famous music festivals. The main one is the Lake Maggiore Jazz Festival, which has offered unforgettable nights of ethnic rhythms, blues, gospel, and Latin American tunes for many years. Concerts take place on the lakeside, in town squares, in villas and parks. This festival has featured performances by master artists like Ray Charles and B.B. King. It takes place annually in the summer. Another popular event is the annual New Orleans Jazz festival, taking place in Ascona, Switzerland every year in June. It is dedicated to jazz and African American music.

Museums
The Lake District has always boasted a wealth of art. The greatest, however, is certainly the scenic landscape. On that note, the Pallanza landscape museum is definitely worth a visit. Housed inside the 1700s Dugnani Palace, it chronicles ages of natural history. Another attraction is the Ginese umbrella museum, displaying everything from Romantic-era parasols to Belle Epoque cupolas and present-day umbrellas. Another notable site is the Chimney sweep museum in Malesco. There is also the Royal Italian Army museum on the charming island of San Giulio. The highlight of its collection is the uniform worn by Umberto I himself.

Churches
The people of Lake Maggiore have never stopped expressing their profound spirituality through construction of churches and cathedrals. The lakeside is surrounded by consecrated monuments. Art, religion, and mysticism unite in beautiful and historic churches. It is hard to say which is the most notable, but a major contender is the monumental church in Talune. Another one is the Church of San Gottardo, a supreme example of castle-type architecture. It was built directly on the rocks without a foundation. There are also many sanctuaries, such as the Madonna del Boden in Ornavasso and the Madonna di Re.

Food
Fish lovers will delight in the vast array of seafood dishes available on Lake Maggiore. These include bass, which symbolizes the lake, pike, whitefish, trout, char, bleak and tench. Bass is served in delectable fillets or in sumptuous risotto dishes. In the lake regions innumerable restaurants you can sample all these dishes, cooked in a variety of ways doused in vinegar, pickled, fried in batter or in traditional or innovative recipes. Enjoy!

Literature
Ernest Hemmingway described the beauty of upper Lake Maggiore in his classic novel Farewell to Arms. The lakeside has inspired Dickens and Piero Chiara among other famous authors. It hosts many literature festivals, such as the Stresa Narrative award, the Guido Gozzano International poetry award, the Gian Vincenzo Omodei Zorim literary award, and the Alessandro Manzoni poetry award in Baveno.

Cinema
The most famous film festival in the area is the annual International Film Festival in Locarno, Switzerland. However, it is not the only one devoted to motion pictures. Stresa hosts an international short film competition each year, the Europe Short award. There is also a film festival in Vogogna, dedicated to films with mountain themes. There is hardly a more appropriate setting for such an event!

Parks and reserves
Some territories around the lake are subject to international conservation laws. Nature lovers will enjoy 280 km2 of natural reserves, comprising 12% of the Italian countryside. Tens of thousands of tourists are drawn to the natural heritage of the lakeside every year. You can explore the unspoiled paradise with a guide or on your own. The best parks are Alpe Veglia Regional Park, Sacro Monte Calvario di Domodossola, Macugnaga, Pian dei Sali Natural Oasis and the Alpinia Botanical Garden, a blossoming balcony on the lakeside. These parks are home to innumerable wildlife species and present a fascinating combination of history, art and architecture.

Towns and places in the area
Locarno is not only famous for its film festival , but also its historical castle, believed by some to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Another historical site is Monte Verita in Ascona. It translates as Hill of Truth. In the early 20th century this hill was the site of a colony, which preached a return to nature. It attracted many famous artists, writers and scholars, among whom Carl Jung and Hermann Hesse. The Italian town of Arona is located in the province of Novara on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Excavations in the area have proved that it was settled back in the 13th century. The territory was controlled by the Celts, and later the Romans. The Benedictine monastery of St. Gratianus and Felinus Martyrs was founded here in the 11th century. Many of the people exiled from Milan in 1162 under the rule of Frederick Barbarossa found refuge in Arona. The town was a free commune in the early 1300s, and became property of the Borromeo dynasty in 1439. This family also gave its name to the lovely Borromean Islands in the lake. The Borromeos acquired the islands in the 12th century. Attractions in Arona include the Sancarlone, La Rocca and the so-called Lakeside. The Lakeside offers a splendid view of the Alps and Angeras castle. There are swimming areas in this location, but keep in mind that they are not guarded, so take a dip at your own risk. A great one is Le rocchette beach close to Arona city center. La Rocca or The Rock is a park, property of the Borromeos. This park was once part of castle grounds, but the castle itself was destroyed by Napoleon. Charles Borromeo, who was beatified posthumously, was born in the castle. Locals enjoy taking strolls through the park, which has always been open to the public. It is also home to many animals. The Sancarlone is a giant statue of Charles Borromeo, built in the 17th century. With an imposing height of 35 m, it is second only to the Statue of Liberty in terms of size. Prior to 1886, the year the Statue of Liberty was completed, the Sancarlone was the biggest statue in the entire world. The original plan involved a complex of chapels and edifices dedicated to St. Charles. Only three of these chapels were finished. The former Archbishop Palace and a 17th century basilica can be seen next to the statue.