Gardens of Villa Taranto (Giardini Botanici Villa Taranto), Lake Maggiore: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

Gardens of Villa Taranto occupy 16 hectares on the western shore of Lake Maggiore near the town of Verbania in Piedmont. The Scottish captain Neil McEacharn purchased the property in 1931 and spent decades importing over 20,000 plant species from six continents, including one of Italy's largest collections of dahlias, lotus flowers, and Amazonian Victoria water lilies. A terraced garden descends to the lakeshore through azalea tunnels, a fern valley, and formal Italian parterres. The grounds are open from mid-March through early November, with peak bloom in April and May. In addition to , Lake Maggiore offers a few other main attractions worth considering. Check out Palazzo Borromeo, Colossus of San Carlo Borromeo (Sancarlone), Lake Orta (Lago di Orta).