Weekend in Piedmont: Where to Go and What to Do to Clear Your Mind and Fill Your Heart

5 Ideas for Spending a Weekend in Piedmont Among Lakes, Ancient Castles, and Timeless Villages

Are you in Piedmont and often hopping from one site to another without ever making a real decision? Don’t worry, because you’re finally in the right place: we from the community will help you clarify what to do for a weekend in Piedmont.

Inside this article, you’ll find tips and itineraries to help you decide where to spend your weekend. Finally, you can pack your backpack and fill your day with moments of pure life!

It’s full spring, and the places we’re about to tell you about offer unparalleled colors and shades. Moreover, Piedmont is a land rich in history, culture, splendid monuments, and majestic buildings.

Beyond that, it’s full of hills crowned by imposing castles and produces fine wines that will quench your heart. So leave behind the city’s concrete and the stress of everyday life and follow us!

Ready? Let’s go!

1. A Peaceful Friday at Lake Maggiore: Discovering the Most Beautiful Islands

Before the summer season arrives and the mass influx of tourists, we recommend visiting one of Piedmont’s treasures: Lake Maggiore; now you can enjoy this gem more peacefully, immersed in nature, and more!

The lake has 11 islands, and the must-see ones are Isola Bella with its wonderful garden, Isola Madre rich in birds from the East, and Isola dei Pescatori which, reflecting in the lake, finds its magic.

Isola Bella: One of the Most Beautiful in Italy

It is the smallest of the Borromean Islands (320 meters long and 180 meters wide), almost hidden as if Lake Maggiore were jealously guarding it.

On the island, you can visit the magnificent botanical gardens with their flowers, statues, and the elegant Baroque palace built between the 17th and 19th centuries. The palace is full of extraordinary rooms filled with paintings, colorful flowers, imposing statues, and tapestries (a textile art form halfway between craftsmanship and artistic representation designed to decorate walls).

Some extra curiosities: do you know why it’s called “Isola Bella?” The designer of the Borromeo Palace was married to Isabella D’Adda and, wanting to dedicate a love tribute to her, decided to name the island after her, which was later shortened to “Bella.”

If you climb up to the panoramic terraces in Isola Bella’s garden, you can see a flag flying on the flagpole. This means that members of the noble Borromeo family are currently present at the palace.

Isola Madre and the Borromeo Palace

For a weekend in Piedmont, we recommend continuing your visit to Isola Madre. In the past, it was called Isola Maggiore because it is the largest of the islands. Here you will have the chance to admire the Borromeo Palace, built in the 1500s and opened to visitors after 478 years, in 1978.

The complex is rich with enchanting furnishings and sublime apartments, such as the Venetian living room decorated with splendid trompe l’oeil style paintings. “Trompe l’oeil”is a naturalistic painting technique that, based on the use of chiaroscuro and perspective, reproduces reality in such a way as to give the viewer’s eyes an illusion of the real.

On the island, you can also visit the Private Chapel and a wonderful garden, rich with flowers and plants of every type, color, and shape, which enjoys a magnificent view directly over Lake Maggiore. This is the ideal spot to take idyllic souvenir photos!

Isola dei Pescatori: A Mirage in Nature

It is the smallest of the Borromean Islands, but it is the only one inhabited year-round. Isola dei Pescatori hosts a charming village and a small square, surrounded by narrow alleys, leading you to the northern side of the island accessible on foot.

This island is also the best place to eat and enjoy the flavors of local cuisine, as it has many trattorias, all with panoramic views of Lake Maggiore.

Not only eateries but also small shops and boutiques where you can buy souvenirs to take with you when you leave the island.

Among the various events held in Piedmont, we from the community highlight the one that takes place on this island on Ferragosto, featuring the procession of small boats.

Imagine being on the shores of this body of water, enjoying this event surrounded by the natural environment of the area — a show within a show, emotion after emotion.

These are some of the must-see things if you plan to spend a weekend in Piedmont, but there are many other destinations nearby to choose from that will make your escape from routine truly unique and original!

2. Weekend in Piedmont at Lake Orta: Exploring the Island and the Town of Orta San Giulio

An ideal destination for a top-notch weekend in Piedmont is undoubtedly Lake Orta which, although a bit less known than other Piedmontese lakes, is one of the most charming.

However, it is somewhat less crystal-clear than the others but perfect for those who want to spend time in a mountainous area. The ideal is to stay the entire weekend in this part of Piedmont, so you have plenty of time to visit the town of Orta San Giulio at a relaxed pace and take a boat trip to Our Lady, the Island of San Giulio.

It’s only 400 meters from the lake’s shores and reachable by boats departing from Piazza Motta. It’s an iconic island you can already spot from afar while strolling through the town’s alleys. Don’t miss it, as it’s the cherry on top if you want your weekend in Piedmont to become unforgettable.

Orta San Giulio is full of traffic-free narrow streets where it’s a pleasure to get lost discovering the town. It’s rich in elegant buildings, shops, bars, and restaurants that will brighten your weekend in Piedmont.

Some Useful Insights

We recommend staying at a B&B in Orta San Giulio because Lake Orta, the town, and the island are three strongholds to be experienced, understood, and breathed in to truly appreciate them. There are also many panoramic spots perfect for taking photos, especially at sunset.

Lake Orta, along with the town of Orta San Giulio, is listed among the most beautiful villages in the world, so it’s a must-see at least once in your life if you decide to visit Piedmont.

Besides the extraordinary natural places, you can admire various monuments and buildings, such as Villa Bossi. This is a 17th-century villa characterized by a fantastic garden that seems to spill onto the lake and today, and we’re almost certain you’ll have a clearer idea of how to spend your stay in this breathtaking corner of the region.

However, if you’re still unsure, take a look at the list of weekly events organized in Piedmont and choose based on your interests.

These will help frame your best weekend ever and will be a great way to meet new people.