Villa Taranto

In Verbania on Lake Maggiore, the gardens of Villa Taranto area an oasis of beauty and a gardener's dream. The villa is home to the Prefettura of the province and not open to visits, but it's the gardens you want to see anyway.

In 1931, Scottish captain Neil McEacharn purchased the property and set about turning the grounds into a English-style garden. It was finished in 1940, with thousands of plants scattered in different environments and quickly gained notoriety for its beauty.

Today, there are more than 20,000 varieties and species. Within the park are terraced spaces, lush corners, water lily ponds, pools and cascade, fountains, box gardens, and more. It is worth a half-day to explore the Eden at Villa Taranto.

The Gardens of Villa Taranto are open from mid-March through early November.
Hours: Summer Season Open from 8:30 AM til 6:30 PM; Shoulder Season Open from 8:30 AM til 5:00 PM. There is an entry fee.

Within the grounds, a bookstore, restaurant and picnic area are available, as well as plant market.