A five-part journey across Lago Maggiore, one of Italy’s most enchanting lakes. In this first episode, travel author Katerina Ferrara takes you beyond the guidebook and into the soul of northern Italy, exploring Stresa, Baveno, and the legendary Borromean Islands through history, beauty, and personal storytelling.
From the first glimpse of Stresa’s Belle Époque promenade to quiet mornings in Baveno, this episode captures the lake’s timeless charm. Learn how Napoleon’s road along the western shore transformed travel in the early 1800s and helped shape Stresa into one of Italy’s most elegant destinations during the nineteenth century Grand Tour. Stroll past pastel villas, explore the Grand Hotel des Îles Borromées where Hemingway once stayed, and hear the stories of composers and artists who found inspiration on these peaceful shores.
Travel by ferry to the Borromean Islands, three jewels of Lago Maggiore, each with its own soul:
🏛️ Isola Bella, a baroque masterpiece of art and gardens rising from the lake.
🐟 Isola dei Pescatori, a humble fishing village alive with tradition, where you can taste risotto al pesce persico and join the August Ferragosto festival.
🌸 Isola Madre, a haven of tranquility with exotic gardens, white peacocks, and marionettes once used by the Borromeo family.
Katerina shares her own experiences staying five nights in Baveno, a peaceful alternative to bustling Stresa. From breakfast overlooking the lake at Hotel Rigoli to evening strolls along the promenade, you will discover how life here moves to the rhythm of the water. Learn about Baveno’s pink granite quarries that helped build the Milan Duomo, explore its eleventh century church and historic villas, and enjoy insider tips on where to eat, from family run trattorias to elegant terrace dining.
The episode also includes a visit to the awe inspiring Eremo di Santa Caterina del Sasso, the hermitage built on the cliffs of the eastern shore. With its medieval frescoes, sacred silence, and panoramic views over the water, this monastery is one of the most unforgettable spiritual landmarks in all of northern Italy.
Throughout the episode, Katerina blends travel storytelling, history, and personal insight, inviting listeners to see Lago Maggiore through her eyes, not as a checklist of sites but as a living tapestry of art, devotion, and Italian grace.
Whether you are planning a trip to northern Italy or dreaming from afar, you will come away with inspiration, insider knowledge, and practical travel tips on:
🏨 Where to stay in Stresa and Baveno
🚤 How to navigate the Borromean Islands by ferry or private water taxi
🍝 What local dishes and wines to try
🌷 When to visit for the best gardens, festivals, and light
🏛️ Hidden gems and cultural highlights not found in typical guidebooks
This is the Italy of still mornings, centuries old chapels, lakeside sunsets, and unexpected encounters, the kind of travel that lingers in your heart long after you have returned home.
🎙️ About the Host:
Katerina Ferrara is an Italy travel expert, author of the Travel italy series (Sicily, Puglia, Rome and Beyond, Milan and Lombardy, Venice and the Veneto), and CEO of Immersion Travel Italy, a platform dedicated to slow travel, festivals, and cultural connection.
🌐 Visit katerinaferrara.com for detailed itineraries, insider Italy travel tips, and links to Katerina’s books on Amazon.
📘 Explore her series on Amazon:
Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Puglia → https://amzn.to/3HFAe2w
Ultimate Festival and Travel Guide Rome and Beyond → https://amzn.to/440Dq0l
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