Verbania is a resort town located on the banks of Lago Maggiore, 90 km Northwest of Milan and about 40 km from the Swiss Locarno. The city lies directly across from another famous resort of Stresa, on the other side of the lake. The distance between them in a straight is only 3, 7 km.

Verbania was established in 1939, the year the merger of small settlements of Intra, Pallanza and Suna. Since 1992, she is the capital of the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.

The main attraction of Verbania is a luxury Villa Taranto with an equally beautiful Botanical garden. The garden is spread over an area of 16 hectares on the Western shore of Lago Maggiore in Pallanza. It was founded in 1931-1940 directed-m years by Scotsman Neil Makihara, who bought a Villa here and the neighbouring estates, constructed over two thousand trees and undertook large-scale alterations to the local landscape. To the public Botanical gardens opened in 1952, the year, and after the death Maceachern in 1964, the year he became the property of the nonprofit organization. Today you can see over 20 thousand different plants, planted along the Hiking trails with a total length of 7 km. Among specimens of the Botanical garden – multi-colored azaleas, Amazonian Victoria, almost 300 species of hydrangea, and t.d. Also in the garden there is a small herbarium and the mausoleum of the Nile Makisara. Villa Taranto is closed to the public – it is owned by the government.

Other attractions in Verbania worth noting Romanesque chapel of San Remigio, built in 11-12th centuries and in 1908 was declared a national monument, the Church of Madonna di Campagna 16th century, also a national monument, the Basilica of San Vittore, dedicated to the patron Saint of the city, the Church of San Leonardo with 65-foot bell tower and other religious buildings. In the Palazzo Dugnani the 16th century, today houses the city Museum of history and art.

Also worth visiting is the medieval village of Onkyo, administratively included in Verbania. It lies at the foot of a hill with a wonderful view over the Lago Maggiore and mount Monterosso. Once the hill was occupied by pastures, and today he is almost entirely covered with forest – there are chestnuts, Linden, birch and pine. On top of the hill stands a small chapel of the Madonna delle Croce, Dating from the early 19th century, and around it, on the rocks, visible in many cave paintings, purpose, and meaning is still controversial among scientists.

In Pallanza, the elegant district of Verbania, was originally an independent settlement, there are several monuments of history and architecture. For example, in the Church of Santo Stefano is stored ancient Roman marble sacrificial gifts, dated to the 1st century BC Centre Pallanza lined the ancient streets and squares with elegant buildings, decorated with an impressive portals, arcades and columns. And the promenade Pallanza is considered one of the most beautiful Lago Maggiore. In the area be sure to inspect the town Hall of the 19th century with a portico of the 32 columns of pink granite, Villa Giulia, built in 1847, the year and the Palazzo Biumi-Innocenti.