On the Gambarogno side of Lake Maggiore, on the hill terrace between Piazzogna and Vairano, lies a magnificent botanical garden, the "Parco Botanico del Gambarogno".
Here, Otto Eisenhut, a nurseryman, has lovingly and skilfully grown thousands of endlessly colourful flowering plants on more than 20,000 square metres: some 950 species and varieties of camellias, 450 different magnolias, azaleas, peonies and rhododendrons; in between grow ivy, pines, juniper bushes and other European and exotic conifers, some of which are rare.
Since the beginning of 2000, the park has been managed by the "Parco botanico del Gambarogno" Foundation, which is intended to ensure the continuity of this attractive landscape garden with its valuable botanical collection.
Lovers need about an hour for a visit, connoisseurs probably a little longer.
We show current pictures from the Botanic Garden here.
Information on visiting the Botanical Garden can be found on the website of the Parco Botanico.