Theatrical Villa Giulia, with its towering lemon-yellow facade and colonnaded balconies, has a photogenic setting on the lakeside. Originally the home of Bernardino Branca (who invented one of Italy’s most famous liqueurs, Fernet), today the villa hosts periodic exhibitions; it also has a restaurant and bar (meals around €30) with seating overlooking the lake.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Villa Rusconi-Clerici

0.03 MILES

This 19th-century villa with English-style gardens hosts occasional concerts and other events, though it's mostly used for weddings and other conferences …

2. Museo del Paesaggio

0.27 MILES

Set in a stately 17th-century palazzo tucked down one of Pallanza's back lanes, this museum houses an exquisite collection of works by sculptor Paolo…

3. Villa Taranto

0.62 MILES

At Villa Taranto it's all about the gardens (the house itself is not open to the public). The grounds of this late-19th-century villa are one of Lake…

4. Isola Madre

1.03 MILES

The closest of the three islands to Verbania, Isola Madre is entirely taken up by the Palazzo Madre and the lovely gardens that surround it. The 16th- to…

5. Chiesa di San Vittore

2.15 MILES

This tiny church on equally tiny Isola Superiore generally gets more tourists than congregation, except on 14 August when its saintly figurine – the…

6. Isole Borromeo

2.15 MILES

The Borromean Gulf forms Lake Maggiore's most beautiful corner, sheltering the Borromean Islands and their spectacular, privately owned palaces. Closest…

7. Palazzo Borromeo

2.18 MILES

Presiding over 10 tiers of spectacular terraced gardens roamed by peacocks, this baroque palace is arguably Lake Maggiore's finest building. Wandering the…

8. Lungolago di Stresa

2.55 MILES

For the best passeggiata (afternoon stroll) on Lake Maggiore head for Stresa, where a 2km-long lakeside promenade meanders through florid gardens and past…