Verbania
Verbania (, , ) is the most populous "comune" (municipality) and the capital city of the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. It is situated on the shore of Lake Maggiore, about north-west of Milan and about from Locarno in Switzerland. It had a population of 30,827 at 1 January 2017. History. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The oldest known people living in the area were the Lepontii. The area was added to the Roman Empire by Emperor Augustus in the first century AD. In the eleventh century the area was controlled  by the bishops of Novara, then by the counts of Pombia. In 1152 Federico Barbarossa gave the area to the Castello family. After the death of Frederick Barbarossa, the territory was again controlled by Novara. By the fourteenth century, the area had become part of the Duchy of Milan. In 1714, following the Treaty of Rastatt most of the lake areas came under the control of the Habsburgs. After the 1796 Napoleonic invasion the area was controlled by the French. By 1818 the House of Savoy had gained control of the area back from the French. With the edict of  10 October 1836, Pallanza and Ossola became part of the province of Novara. After the Second World War, the territory still remained part of the province of Novara. In 1976 the autonomous district of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola was established. Overview. It faces the city of Stresa lying at a direct distance of across Lake Maggiore, and by road. The present-day Verbania was created by the 1939 merger of the cities of Intra, Pallanza and Suna, and other "frazioni". Since 1992 it has been the capital of the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. A small islet lying a stone's  throw from the shores of the Pallanza "frazione" and separated from it by a narrow stretch of water just 10 or 15 metres wide, known as the Isolino di San Giovanni, is famous for having been the home of Arturo Toscanini between the years of 1927 and 1952. Verbania consists of the following localities: Antoliva, Bieno, Biganzolo, Cavandone, Fondotoce, Intra, Pallanza, Possaccio, Suna, Torchiedo, Trobaso and Zoverallo. Climate. The climate is temperate, humid, with hot summer and continental type influences in the inland and higher areas. The area is characterized by cold winters and hot summers. Main sights. Giardini Botanici  Villa Taranto is an estate with fine botanical gardens. Transport. Verbania-Pallanza railway station, opened in 1905, forms part of the Milan–Domodossola railway. It is in the Fondotoce district, between Lake Mergozzo and the river Toce, just upstream from where the Toce flows into Lake Maggiore. A bus connects Verbania to the rail station in Fondotoce. International relations. Twin towns – Sister cities. Verbania is twinned with the following cities and towns: