Discover the Botanical Gardens of Villa Taranto on Lake Maggiore

As the arrival of spring draws near, nature is already putting on its best show: thousands of flowers are beginning to bloom, coloring gardens and parks all over Italy. One garden has opened its gates earlier than expected, on March 6, 2026, offering the opportunity for curious visitors to immerse themselves in the enchanting shades and scents that welcome the most romantic season of the year. This is the Botanical Gardens of Villa Taranto, in Verbania, overlooking the tranquil waters of Lake Maggiore. This is the perfect time to visit the magical world of blooms, where the undisputed king is the grand labyrinth of tulips: a winding path of about 400 meters that transports us into a special atmosphere dominated by fascinating tones, geometries, and shades.

What to See at Villa Taranto Gardens

Villa Taranto Gardens welcome visitors with a wide variety of flowers spread over an area of about 16 hectares, with over 7 km of paths that lead to discovering an extensive heritage: more than 20,000 rare and exotic species and a vast labyrinth composed of 80,000 tulips divided into approximately 70 different varieties in terms of shape and color. There are also ponds filled with water lilies and spaces dedicated to aquatic plants. A true palette of colors that paints the meadows and flowerbeds of the park since 1952 when the then owner Neil Boyd McEacharn, a Scottish captain, decided to transform the estate into a botanical garden and share its beauty with visitors. The center of attention for visitors is the tulip labyrinth: it houses valuable varieties such as the peony-flowered tulips “Carnaval de Nice,” the lily-flowered “Ballerina,” and the fringed tulips like “Vincent van Gogh,” whose name is inspired by the famous painter. In addition to tulips, from March on, other blooms can also be seen: magnolias, azaleas, hyacinths, rhododendrons, and various types of bulbs color the garden, which changes with the passing of days and months until summer, when the Victoria Cruziana flower and the large tropical water lily dominate, along with dahlias, hydrangeas, and other seasonal species.

How to get to Botanical Gardens of Villa Taranto from Milan

By car take A8 motorway (Autostrada dei Laghi) toward Gravellona Toce, then the A26, it's about a 1.5 hour drive. By train, the nearest station would be Verbania-Pallanza and a 10km bus ride (bus 12 or 13). For a scenic journey take the train to Stresa and the ferry directly to the Villa Taranto.

Tickets for Villa Taranto Gardens

The visit to the gardens lasts about 2 hours. Tickets can be purchased online on the official website of Villa Taranto Gardens, from March 19th.

Other places of interest nearby:

• VERBANIA: the Landscape Museum (+390323 502254 – www.museodelpaesaggio.it ). Founded in 1909 by Antonio Massara. Today the Landscape Museum offers the public collections of Painting, Sculpture and Archaeology (in Ornavasso). The 16th century Church of Madonna di Campagna and the restored Basilica of San Vittore in Verbania Intra.
• STRESA: the famous Borromeo Islands.
• LAKE ORTA: the ancient village and the Island of S. Giulio.
• ARONA: the Colossus of San Carlo Borromeo.

Photo by Azzedine Rouichi