The second week of July I will be driving from Pienza to Lake Maggiore. I would like to know what I should see along the way (I have two days to get the Lake Maggiore) and what is should see and do once at the Lake. Marie

It's a pretty big (some might even say major) lake. Do you know where you're staying?

So many options for 2 days travel to Lago Maggiore! You could go via Bologna/Modena/Parma and stop over in Emilia Romagno food heartland or alternatively come up the coastal route with a stop over around La Spezia/Levanto/Cinque Terre or Santa Margherita or even Genoa. I don't recomend my beloved Piedmont wine country as you won't have enough time to do it justice. How many days at Maggiore? Check out Stresa, take the ferry to the 3 Borremeo Islands, Isola Bella and Isola Madre are almost worth a day on each one, or ferry around the lake to Lucarno in Switzerland. Check out the Villa Pallavicino, beautiful park with a small zoo, on a clear day take the Funivia cable car to Mottarone for a view of the Alps and all the lakes, and give a day for a trip to nearby Lake Orta, go to Orta San Guilio and check out the sacred mountain behind town. Check http://www.illagomaggiore.com

We are staying at the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees.

I like the idea of the coastal route with a stop in Cinque Terre, how long do you think it would take to drive there from Pienza. I am planning on Isola Bella & Isola Madre so you feel I should plan at least 1/2 day on each island. Thanks for the idea of the cable car to Mottarone that sounds like a great Idea as well as Villa Pallavicino. Have been to Lake Orta and loved it.

The magnificent Taranto Gardens (in Verbania, across from the Lake Maggiore boat dock) is certainly worth a tranquil visit. One of my closest friends stayed at the Grand last year....and considering what he was shelling out, he felt that it was highly overrated, unfriendly staff, etc. etc, ad nauseam. Just one man's opinion, of course. We stayed at the venerable Orta Hotel on Lake Orta a few years ago, and loved the ambience of small town, small lake, etc.....but that's low rent district vs. the Grand..

Perhaps consider a one night stopover at SML (mentioned above by Sampaquita)...and take in nearby Portofino..or Camogli.
I would avoid Genoa which probably has one of the worst traffic situations of all Italian cities I have ever driven in.

Enjoy your travels...should be fun.

stu t.

I would have lunch in Portofino---I would take the coast road as well.

I am thinking of staying at the Grand Hotel Bristol - what do you think

Hard to go wrong wih any of those on the promenade--some like the Astoria. Here are some pics that may get you excited.
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...at=4173&page=1

thanks for the pictures - I am excited