Villa Taranto is located in Verbania, easily reached by boat from nearby Stresa or by car from Milan (about 90 minutes away). The nearest train station is in Pallanza, just a short walk away.
The dream of a perfect garden
McEacharn bought the land in 1931 and his ambition was to create a botanical garden with plants from all over the world. Inspired by English and French parks, he managed to transform what was originally a wild terrain into a showpiece full of exotic flora. The result is a harmonious combination of Italian elegance and British garden tradition, spread over 16 hectares.
Botanical diversity
More than 20,000 species of plants from five continents grow in the gardens of Villa Taranto. Thousands of tulips, rhododendrons and azalea shrubs bloom in spring, while summer belongs to exotic water lilies and lotus flowers. Of special note is the Dahlia Maze, a maze of dahlias that bursts with colour in autumn. Also unique is the rare cycad Wollemia nobilis, a prehistoric plant only discovered in the 1990s.
The promenade between fountains and statues
The garden is interwoven with a network of paths that lead visitors past terraced beds, Japanese maples, mature cedars and gurgling fountains. Notable is the Grand Cascade, a water feature with carefully planted flower beds that creates the perfect spectacle. A tranquil pond with water lilies and aquatic plants is the ideal place to relax.
Best time to visit
Villa Taranto is open from spring to autumn (usually from mid-March to early November), with each season bringing a different spectacle. It is at its most glorious during Tulip Week (in April) and the autumn dahlia festival. Thanks to Lago Maggiore' s favourable climate, plants that would not survive elsewhere in Italy thrive here.
Villa Taranto
Although the garden of Villa Taranto is the main attraction, the villa itself also has an interesting history. It was originally a 19th-century private mansion that Captain Neil Boyd Watson McEacharn purchased in 1931 and renamed Villa Taranto in honour of his Scottish ancestor, the Marquis de Taranto.
Unlike the garden, however, the villa is not open to the public - it serves as an administrative centre. However, its elegant façade and its position over the lake add to the picturesque atmosphere of the whole complex. The building reflects the typical architecture of northern Italy, with terraces and views of Lago Maggiore.
Villa Taranto is not just a botanical garden, but a living gallery of colours and scents. Every corner here tells the story of the passion of a man who dedicated his life to the beauty of plants. If you are looking for a place where nature and art blend together in harmony, Villa Taranto is the obvious choice.
