On the western shore of Lake Maggiore, nestled in a romantic hilly landscape, Verbania extends up to Monte Rosso, located behind the Borromean Gulf. The city offers a unique wealth of panoramas and environments to immerse yourself in, perfect for all travelers who love to enjoy life outdoors, whether at a slow pace or preferring more challenging routes.
Along the Piedmontese shore of Lake Maggiore within the municipality of Verbania lies the fascinating Special Nature Reserve of Fondo Toce, established in 1990. The reeds of this area are counted among the last examples of wetland in the eastern part of the region. The exceptional biodiversity present in this area of Piedmont is evidenced by the numerous species of amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and insects that reside there, ranging from the European pond turtle to the green frog, from wall lizards to foxes and weasels, just to name a few. The ecosystem is also ideal both to host numerous lake fish and birds and for the proliferation of more than 240 species of flora. Visitors can discover the most suggestive corners and observe the diverse inhabitants of the Reserve thanks to a flat trail that can be walked in about an hour.
Starting from the Reserve, always along pedestrian and cycling trails, it is possible to reach the Park of Memory and Peace, a place of landscape interest but also and above all historical. It stands in the place where, in 1944, the Nazis shot 43 partisans and the 16,000m2 on which it extends honor their memory. The Park, dedicated to the Resistance, includes a monumental area consisting of a tall cross – symbol of sacrifice – dominating the long wall bearing the names of 1200 partisans engraved; the monument to the Georgian partisans, a copper sculpture donated by the Soviet partisans of Georgia; the Ex-Internment monument, dedicated particularly to Italian interned soldiers; the Monument to Women, representative of their role during the Resistance; and the Holocaust memorial, in memory of the Jewish people. Finally, in 2000, an olive tree symbolizing peace was planted by the then Israeli Ambassador, which today stands near the monumental wall.
For those who wish to venture on hilly routes, the Verbano offers, among others, the trails leading to Monterosso that allow combining sports activity with history and environmental value. One of the routes to reach Cavandone, a hamlet of Verbania located right on Monterosso, starts from Suna, a picturesque village situated on the lake shore and recently enriched by lively murals. Following the signs already present within the town, it is possible to reach a panoramic trail that skirts interesting buildings such as the Ancient Torraccia and the Church of the Good Remedy – with its splendid belvedere overlooking the Borromean Gulf – until reaching Cavandone, a small medieval village with characteristic rural stone houses, which inspired the famous Swiss writer Johanna Spyri, author of the novel “Heidi”, who set two of her novels right here. Spyri used to spend long stays in Suna and, in these two novels, celebrated the beauty and uniqueness of the landscapes of the Verbano.
