Lake Maggiore is the second-largest lake in Italy and stretches into Switzerland. Formed by glaciers during the last Ice Age, it has been inhabited since prehistoric times. It was settled by Celtic tribes and later became part of the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, the area came under the control of feudal lords and the powerful Borromeo family, who built grand palaces and gardens, especially on the Borromean Islands. During the Renaissance and beyond, it became a cultural hub and a retreat fo