Lake Maggiore, also known as Lake Verbano, is the second largest in Italy after Lake Garda and is famous for it’s lovely resorts. Between two of these, Stresa and Cannobio is the archipelago of the Borromee Islands, Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola Superiore also known as fisherman’s island whereas the two islands of Brissago are in front of the Swiss resort of the same name. The area around the lake has been inhabited since prehistoric times and has always been a place of historic encounters as well as a point of transit in central Europe.