Il Borgo di Sabine

Lake Maggiore


High above the lake in the mountain village of Vararo, this peaceful mountain inn makes an ideal base for walks in the region. It has a bohemian vibe with three artfully configured rooms, set with vintage decor, bold stencilling, and secret closet sculptures. The tiny restaurant serves up tasty home cooking (mains around €10), best enjoyed on the breezy terrace.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Lake Maggiore attractions

1. Laveno Funivia

1.81 MILES

A highlight of Laveno is the Funivia, which whisks passengers up to a panoramic spot 949m above sea level, in the shadow of the Sasso del Ferro peak …

2. Villa della Porta Bozzolo

2.92 MILES

In the unassuming town of Casalzuigno, about 9km east of Laveno, generations of nobles have swanned about the magnificent gardens of Villa della Porta…

3. Sacro Monte della Santissima Trinità

3.32 MILES

The main (some would say, only) reason for stopping in Ghiffa, a blip of a village 4km northeast of Verbania, is to make a pilgrimage 3km inland and…

4. Santa Caterina del Sasso

4.23 MILES

One of northern Italy's most spectacularly sited monasteries, Santa Caterina del Sasso clings to the high rocky face of Lago Maggiore's southeast shore…

5. Villa Taranto

4.36 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…

6. Villa Rusconi-Clerici

4.81 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 …

7. Villa Giulia

4.82 MILES

Theatrical Villa Giulia, with its towering lemon-yellow facade and colonnaded balconies, has a photogenic setting on the lakeside. Originally the home of…

8. Museo del Paesaggio

5.02 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…