Soon the Borromean Islands will all be connected by a floating walkway. This is the idea to attract tourists again after more than a year of imprisonment and restrictions due to Covid-19.
The plan does not have its roots in the world of politics, but in the business world. The public will be offered the chance to move freely between one island and another in total autonomy. The project is called "Lake Maggiore Light Bridge". Something not totally original, which winks at floating piers, made in 2016 on Lake Iseo by the famous artist Christo.
This allows us to clarify a simple concept. It is a viable proposal, guaranteed to be successful and capable of attracting the public. It is not yet clear, however, whether the authorization for the works will be given for all the Borromean Islands or only for two of them: Beautiful island e Isola dei Pescatori.
Walkway between the Borromean Islands: the project
The idea of creating a floating walkway is the result of the work of a group of local entrepreneurs. Inside there are owners of hotels, clubs and restaurants in the area of Verbania. All of them said they were willing to finance the construction, so as to revive tourism in the area.
The spokesperson is the hotelier Antonio Zacchera. The latter commissioned a feasibility study to professionals, who carried out the task in a few days. All within the timeframe set for the presentation to the Government of the Piedmont Region. This is in order to be able to re-enter the National Resistance and Resilience Plan, to which private individuals can also participate.
Here are Zacchera's words: “The Borromeo family also liked the idea, which reserves the right to join later, when the project is operational. With an investment of 800-850 thousand euros, we could have a fallout of 26 million euros over the next six years ".
What the catwalk will look like
What "Lago Maggiore Light Bridge" offers is a real tourist attraction. A walk on the water, completely free, which guarantees a unique point of view. Offering this chance to move is also a way to improve the environmental impact of the tourism sector on this splendid area.
The eco-sustainability of the project is all in the net decrease in detached tickets for ferries and small private boats. Being able to reach the islands on foot, enjoying a dream panorama, is in itself an outstretched hand to the environment to be protected.
There are two hypotheses under consideration for the routes at the moment. In any case, the islands would be connected, enhancing the Malghera rock, the midpoint of the route. The latter could simply be bypassed or, in case of permits, integrated and made part of the pedestrian path on the water.
The architect has expressed himself in this regard Emanuele Bortolotti, among the signatories of the project. Here are his words: “Alberto Padulazzi (signatory engineer) dealt with the technical solutions to be adopted to allow adaptation to changes in the lake level. There are three types of floating pontoons under consideration. The project is certainly feasible but it is essential to carefully evaluate every single aspect ".
