Isola Pescatori and Villa Taranto

A print of Isola Pescatori - 1878

by Harry Fenn

This Borromean Gulf island's full name is - Isola Superiore dei Pescatori, a big name for a very very small island - 350 mts long and 100 mts wide. It is more commonly known as Isola Pescatori - Fisherman's Island. For so many years - fisherman have called this island home.

It is such a charming island from a distance

and I had read some great reports about it's restaurants on Tripadvisor

we had chosen one from our Tripadvisor research, and Stephanie said it was superb, she eats there whenever she has the opportunity. so she made a reservation for us - thank goodness, it was packed on the deck when we arrived at noon.

It is the restaurant to the left of the boats below

The waiter greets us with - "I have a table called Liz"!

and Stephanie has reserved a table right at the front corner of the deck - so we can take in all the lake action.

Tratoria Imbarcadero's menu was outstanding

- we opted for the local fish - starting with "antipasta pesca", followed by a superb grilled laverelo (white fish), which she is filleting above, and then a trout ravioli.

The fish, service and view were more than we had expected and as for the "conto" - just so low - less than a couple of caffes in Portofino!!!!

There are only about 50 permanent residents on Pescatori now, including fisherman - the houses they live in have entrances in the centre of the island, with doors slightly high off the ground to protect them from the floods which frequently occur when the lake waters rise.

Pescatori's wildlife roamin' the streets!!

such a great few hours - a really charming island Waiting for the ferry

which will take us north up the lake to Giardini Botanici Villa Taranto

These botanical gardens are located on the western shore of the lake, and were established by a passionate botanist Scotsman - Neil McEacharn between 1931 to 1940. He bought and existing villa (above) and its neighboring estates - 16 hectares, opening this garden to the public in 1952.

There are the colourful terraced gardens The Putti Fountain - named after the decorating sculpture of lads, the fountain is surrounded in spring of blooming flower beds.

This garden houses more than 20,000 plants of particular botanic value and more than 80,000 blooming bulbous specimens. Two of my favourite - the peony rose (above) and the wonderful cornus florida - dogwood (below) Both the above were so easy to grow in Chester, New Hampshire, but I haven't had luck anywhere else - even in Bowral in the Southern Highlands - and I have tried on numerous occasions.

The mausoleum chapel above was built in 1965 responsively to the last will of the deceased Captain McEacharn (died in 1964), his last resting place in the gardens created by him. Since his death this garden has been run by a non-profit organisation.

The gardens were superb - even late afternoon, as is the coast of Lake Maggiore.

On arrival back to our Hotel - Stephanie lets us know she has still got " some room in her budget", so she has organised "free drinks and antipasto" prior to our dinner - of course we all attend!!. Photo below, shows our gang enjoying themselves, and Stephanie on her feet amongst this group.

This night we had a choice of two Restaurants in Baveno - Fish or Steak, we chose (along with the majority) Steak - well we personally had "fished" out on Isola Pescatori. I have to tell you it was not our best dinner - really mini steak schnitzels I would say, not that it worried us after our superb lunch.

However, it was one of the funniest nights of our life - too hard to explain but it was absolutely wonderful - (photos above shows our outrageous waiter chatting up Stephanie.) We laughed all the way back to the hotel, laughed going to sleep and were still laughing the next morning . A superb evening!

Next - Carlo and Stephanie truck us to Verona.