Today we had a lie in and a leisurely breakfast before saying goodbye to our neighbours and driving a relatively short distance to Lake Maggiore. We had a bit of trouble finding the stopover site in Baveno but got there in the end.
After lunch we got the ferry to Isola Bella, an island with a palace and garden. We particularly liked the grotto rooms in the palace, the walls of which were encrusted with stones.
The gardens were absolutely beautiful.
The following photos are of Teatro Massimo, which is covered in cherubs, Greek gods and obelisks. Rather OTT!
The views over the lake were also lovely, although it was quite cloudy today and rather hazy.
While we waited for the ferry, we found a quiet bar, away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist streets and tat shops, to have a glass of wine and watch the world go by.
Tomorrow we are getting the Lake Maggiore express, a round trip that combines a boat on the lake, a spectacular railway journey through the mountains, and a fast train back to the lake.
Ramblings 
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