LAGO MAGGIORE
Having stayed a summer weekend in Tessin - the swiss Kanton right next to Italy just behind the Gotthard massif - it would have been a waste not to stay at the Lago Maggiore (it. “the great lake”). The name, as uninspired as it may be, is very fitting. Spanning almost 70 kilometers, it reaches far into Italy and allows you to travel to many picturesque towns, such as Ascona (swiss side) or Arona (italian side) by boat.
During the stay, we planned a trip to Isole di Brissago. The island - located close to its namesake village near Ascona - serves as a huge botanical garden, displaying a wide array of tropical plants that flourish nicely in the warm and humid climate of the region. Needless to say: we went by boat.
We boarded a cozy boat in Gerra, that almost left without us because we had trouble finding the little jetty, and made our way across the Lake. The boat was fast and the crew was kind. The trip to the island (including a stop in Ascona) took about forty minutes.
The view and the breeze were an absolute highlight as well as the crew that had absolutely chill vibes about them. Laughing, joking, sitting there among the passengers and reading. It was fun watching them go about their day. Also, the boat had a certain charm of its own.
The island has proven to be smaller than we expected, but all the more beautiful. The lush flora, the architecture and the fact, that we were on an island felt adventurous. It was hot and humid, but the occasional breeze and the accessible shores gave excellent opportunities to cool down.
