The town's 14th century castle is the largest in the Lomellina area, has a wide moat around it and dominated by an imposing circular tower. The castle now hosts painting, sculpture and craft exhibitions. Antique and vintage modern exhibitions and a permanent exhibition dedicated to stylist Ken Scott are on show at Pila del Castello. Near Sartirana, the Sartirana Lake Nesting Site is a large oxbow lake formed by the meanders of the Sesia river, one of the most attractive and uncontaminated places in Lomellina with an extraordinarily diverse flora and fauna.

Our third stop is in Luino, the urban centre of the northwestern region of the Province of Varese and the main city on the Lombard shore of Lake Maggiore, famed for its historic centre dotted with Art Nouveau buildings and for its delightful lakefront, which extends for almost 2 km to give the city an almost Mediterranean feel.   A strategic starting point for excursions into the nearby mountains and the region’s postcard villages, the town also owes its cultural liveliness to the literary atmosphere that has always hung over it: Hemingway mentions Luino in his acclaimed novel A Farewell to Arms, the town was the birthplace of the poet Vittorio Sereni and the writer Piero Chiara, and was home to Nobel Prize-winning playwright and actor Dario Fo.  What to see and do in Luino:•    A walk along the lakefront is an absolute must in Luino, with majestic plane trees and the beautiful architecture of the palaces marking out the old Napoleonic port.•    Overlooking the lake itself, the 15th century Church of Madonna del Carmine, the 18th century private Chapel of the Serbelloni family and the Palace Verbania, home the Municipal Archaeological and Paleontological Museum. •    You can help but feel relaxed as you wander around the town’s historic centre, with its artisan shops, Renaissance and Baroque palaces and enchanting streets that are waiting to be discovered.  •    The lively Mercato di Luino (on Wednesdays) is a centuries-old traditional market that is an absolute must for any and all visitors.  

Discovering the Lombardy shore of Lake Maggiore, a region characterised by hills, dense reeds, archaeological finds and enchanting villages for you to visit.

  The last stop on our tour among the villages of Lake Lugano, Claino is one of the most interesting hamlets from a historical and artistic point of view.   With its mediaeval remains, Renaissance graffiti and more than 40 murals colouring the houses in the centre, it has earned the nickname of "Borgo Dipinto del Ceresio" (Painted Village of Ceresio).     The Oratory of Santa Giulia, a small 17th century church that can be reached after a 45-minute walk, is also worth a visit: your efforts will be rewarded with a spectacular view of the lake. Just a few minutes from Claino con Osteno, on the eastern side of the Ceresio, are the Rescia Caves, a circular route consisting of seven interconnected caves inside a wood, with a geological age of 80 million years.  You can enjoy this unexpected spot with a guide or on your own, venturing with torch in hand through gorges, waterfalls, and mineral aggregates similar to coral reefs.      (Ph: clainoconostenoturismo.it)

  For our third stop, we move to the Como area where, high up in the shadow of Monte Palanzone, we find Caglio, one of the most interesting villages in the Larian Triangle.   A favourite summer holiday destination for many families from Milan and Brianza since the 1950s, it is still sought after for its healthy air, tranquillity and many scenic and cultural attractions. These include the ancient medieval village with its stone buildings and the magnificent Romanesque church of Santa Valeria.One of the village's most illustrious guests was the Divisionist painter Giovanni Segantini who, attracted by the beauty of the place, made it his permanent home between 1885 and 1886. During this period he painted "Alla stanga", one of his most famous works, which beautifully captures the atmosphere of the plain. An open-air museum has been established in Caglio to commemorate this character: along the streets of the village, panels reproducing Segantini's most important works from Brianza to Switzerland have been placed.     An evocative itinerary that allows visitors to get to know his works and experience the place where the artist spent his stay in Caglio, it also offers an opportunity to discover the most interesting corners of the village.      (Ph: triangololariano.it)

On the enchanting Sirmione peninsula, an imposing black poplar tree dwells on the shores of the lake.

Affectionately called Piantù by the locals, the plane tree on the Toscolano Maderno lakefront is an irreplaceable arboreal jewel.

From the lake to the mountains, from modern to ancient, the village is a mosaic of suggestive views

On this tour you will experience a day of relaxation, art and culture as you discover the most beautiful villas on the lake and taste some excellent food.

Discover the unique opportunity to observe the most beautiful views and the most iconic places in Lombardy from above

A huge bell of leaves and flowers is the undisputed star of a village suspended between lake and mountain.