Travel

The Magnificent Gardens of Villa Taranto on Lake Maggiore

The day we visited the gardens of Villa Taranto the weather played tricks on us. After a rainy morning, we left our hotel in Cannero Riviera for Verbania, trusting the clouds were gone for the rest of the day. Boy, we were wrong! Five minutes after entering the gardens the sun was replaced by drizzle and the drizzle became rain in no time. We put on the rain coats, covered the cameras and decided we won't get scared away by only water. Of course, Murphy doesn't just stay wherever he is and does nothing, therefore the rain only stopped two hours later as we were walking through the exit gates.

So what if my husband and I were the only crazy people ruminating around the grounds of Villa Taranto in search of flowers in bloom on a rainy afternoon? It was fun nevertheless. And rain aside, the gardens are marvelous!

When the rain started most visitors decided to wait in covered places like the mausoleum, the last resting place of Captain Neil Mc Eacharn, the man who during the first part of the 20th century created these amazing gardens. The chapel is decorated with fresh cut flowers, some incredibly beautiful marble statues and stained glass windows. But we were on a mission and after admiring the artistry and poetry of this place, we decided to challenge ourselves and our cameras for a photo shooting session in the rain.

The entrance boulevard is flanked by mighty conifers, but once we started exploring the gardens and let our steps take us on winding alleys, we discovered an impressing number of species. Some of the plants and trees growing here were brought from distant corners of the world, others are native, but what always surprises is the striking combinations, the sight of exotic trees coexisting next to plants that you would usually find in the mountains.

The gardens are beautifully landscaped. There are terraces, lawns, lotus ponds, fountains, flower beds, waterfalls... What I liked best was the diversity, the lack of monotony.

Unfortunately when we visited in mid May many of the spring flowers, like the tulips for which Villa Taranto is famous for, had already wittered. But plenty of rhododendron, azaleas, and wisterias were still in bloom, creating a very colorful atmosphere.

Villa Taranto is situated in a privileged place, between the mountains and the lake, and some pretty incredible views could be enjoyed as we walked through the gardens.

Unfortunately the villa itself is not open to the public, but the gardens alone are breathtaking enough to be worth a visit. Also, due to the great care and utmost attention given to the landscape, the flower beds are changed periodically to ensure at any time of the year a splash of color against the lush green lawns and trees.

In spite of the rain, visiting the gardens of Villa Taranto was lots of fun, in part due to the fact that we were looking pretty hilarious in our raincoats. And there are some pictured we took of one another that no one else will ever see. But to be honest, these gardens are one of the best you can visit on Lake Maggiore. They can only be compared with the interesting landscape of Isola Bella once you get rid of the crowds.

We visited the gardens of Villa Taranto in collaboration with VisitStresa.com. All opinions are our own and based on our personal experience.

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