Ticket to ride: a panoramic train running close to Lake Maggiore

This small town, standing on the Western coast of Lake Maggiore in the so-called Borromea Gulf, is one of the most visited touristic sites of entire Piemonte. Its territory includes three of the four Borromean Islands: Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola Superiora, also named Isola dei Pescatori. The first recorded file about the town is dated 998, but even in the Roman age, the way leading from Milan to the Sempione pass ran by this site.

The chief town of Ossola valley stands on the track of an ancient Roman way leading from Milan to Sempione pass. The settlement grew especially in the Renaissance, under the protection of Visconti and Sforza families, from Milan. Since 1906, when the Sempione tunnel was inaugurated, the district became strategic for commercial exchanges and it prospered also thanks to hydroelectric power stations. The town centre features outstanding attractions, such ad the 15th century Piazza del Mercato and the 16th century Palazzo Silva.

The site of this small town was initially inhabited during the Roman age, but then abandoned due to the frequent floods by river Melezzo; in the 5th century, the church of Santa Maria Maggiore was founded and later, in the 13th century, a village grew again around the church itself. Today, Santa Maria Maggiore is well known for being a winter sports locations and for its Christmas Markets.

This charming city is a well known tourist destination, favored by a pleasant climate, and the seat of the second oldest film festival after Venice (first edition in 1946). During the Roman age, it was connected to Oscella (now Domodossola) by the Via Vigezzina, whose track is now followed by a panoramic railroad. Later in the Renaissance age, it was controlled by the Visconti family from Milan, who turned the pristine fortress into a stately home.