Verbania

Verbania is a city and comune in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and sits on the western shore of Lake Maggiore, at the foot of the Alps. The municipality was formed in 1939 by the merger of the towns of Pallanza and Intra along the lakefront, and it later expanded to include surrounding areas. The landscape blends lakefront promenades with hillside terrain, and the nearby Mottarone mountain provides views over the lake and surrounding valleys.

Economy and culture: Tourism is a major component of Verbania’s economy, driven by the lake environment, museums, and the Villa Taranto botanical gardens, which are renowned for their plant collections. The historic cores of Pallanza and Intra retain 19th- and early 20th-century architecture and feature churches, markets, and shops along the waterfront. The city hosts cultural events and serves as a regional service center for the northern Piedmont area.

Transport and administration: Verbania is connected by road and rail and has ferries operating on Lake Maggiore, linking the town with other ports around the lake. As the administrative center of the province, it functions as a hub for local government and public services in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola province.

Population: The city has a population in the tens of thousands.