Spring on Lake Maggiore: camellia and citrus blossom festival

Three Days of Blooming Gardens, Historic Villas and Mediterranean Landscapes

Spring transforms Lake Maggiore into one of Europe's most spectacular flowering destinations. Thanks to its unique microclimate, Mediterranean plants thrive alongside alpine scenery, creating magnificent gardens filled with camellias, citrus trees and exotic botanical collections.

This relaxing itinerary explores the region's finest spring gardens, charming lakeside towns and the traditional festivals celebrating the seasonal blooms that make Lake Maggiore famous.

Tour Highlights

Camellia Park in Locarno
More than 850 varieties of camellias
The elegant lakeside town of Ascona
Cannero Riviera and its historic citrus gardens
Citrus Festival
Villa Anelli's historic private garden
Optional visit to Villa Giulia in Verbania

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival at Lake Maggiore

Arrival at the hotel, check-in, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2 – Camellias, Citrus Gardens & Lakeside Villages

Enjoy a full-day guided excursion along the northern shores of Lake Maggiore.

Visit the renowned Camellia Park in Locarno, home to more than 850 varieties of camellias from around the world and one of Europe's finest spring flowering displays.

Continue to the elegant lakeside town of Ascona for a leisurely stroll before reaching Cannero Riviera, where an exceptionally mild climate has allowed citrus trees to flourish since the seventeenth century.

Explore the historic gardens and villas before enjoying free time to experience the atmosphere of the village and, during the appropriate period, the traditional Citrus Festival.

Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3 – Villa Anelli & the Gardens of Lake Maggiore

Visit the beautiful private gardens of Villa Anelli, created in 1872 and renowned for their outstanding collection of camellias set within a romantic landscape garden.

On the return journey, there is the opportunity to stop in Verbania Pallanza, with free time for lunch and an optional visit to Villa Giulia, another elegant lakeside villa surrounded by centuries-old trees and seasonal blooms.

Departure.