Verbania (Piedmont)

Verbania is the capital city of the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. It is situated on the shore of Lake Maggiore. It faces the city of Stresa lying at a direct distance of 3.7 km (2 mi) across Lake Maggiore, and 16 km (10 mi) by road. The present-day Verbania was created by the 1939 merger of the cities of Intra, Pallanza and Suna, and other frazioni. Since 1992 it has been the capital of the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. A small islet lying a stone's throw from the shores of the Pallanza frazione and separated from it by a narrow stretch of water just 10 or 15 metres wide, known as the Isolino di San Giovanni, is famous for having been the home of Arturo Toscanini between the years of 1927 and 1952. One of the greatest attractions on Lake Maggiore is located here: the Giardini Botanici Villa Taranto (botanical gardens). The gardens contain nearly 20,000 plant varieties, representing more than 3,000 species, set among 7 km of paths. Among its collections are azalea, cornus, greenhouses of Victoria amazonica, and 300 types of dahlias. It also contains a small herbarium and the founder's mausoleum.