Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Lago Maggiore

With ‘only’ 196 metres above sea level Ascona is Switzerland's lowest lying city. The town is located on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore (also called Lake Langen), at the mouth of the Maggia River. Ascona is famous for its old town, the South European promenade (PiP 1) with its many terraces and its mild climate. In ‘Borgo’ - the old center of town - lies the San Pietro e Paolo basilica (PiP 2), dating back to the 16th century.. The high bell tower of the church is the landmark of this holiday resort. The many alleys in the old center lead to the car free promenade with its charming street cafés. In the past Ascona had four fortresses, of which only ruins are left. By the end of the 19th century, writers and artists moved to the attractive fishing village, later followed by tourists later. It is now a sophisticated holiday destination.

In the 19th century Lake Maggiore was discovered by English travelers, who built beautiful summer residences along the lake; among others also the well-known Villa Taranto with 16 hectares of gardens. The botanical gardens surrounding the Villa Taranto were created between 1931 and 1940 by the Scottish captain Neil McEacharn. He bought an existing villa and its neighboring estates, cut down more than 2.000 trees, and undertook substantial changes to the landscape, including the addition of major water features. Today the gardens contain nearly 20.000 plant varieties, representing more than 3.000 species, set among 7 km of paths. With some 150.000 visitors yearly it is the biggest tourist attraction in the area.