Lake Maggiore is 54 km long, with a coastline of over 150km and at its widest is 12 km. Like all the other Northern Italian lakes it is a deep glacial basin fed by rivers; Verzasca, Giona, and Cannobino flow into the lake. Its major outlet is the Ticino which, in turn, joins the river Po just south-east of Pavia.

Piedmont and Lombardy are two major regions surrounding the Lake but the most northerly section of Lake Maggiore extends a dozen kilometres into Switzerland, the lowest point above sea-level in Switzerland.

The climate as with all these protected lakes is mild in both summer and winter, producing lush vegetation, with beautifully planted gardens in wonderful villas growing rare and exotic plants. Well-known gardens include those of the Isola Madre, Isola Bella and the Isole di Brissago, that of the Villa Taranto in Verbania, and the Alpinia botanical garden above Stresa. These lakes are almost like a lost world. They also have their monsters apparently!