Here are some places I advice you to visit on your stay at Stresa:
Isole Borromeo, that are three out of four to be visited. Start the day tour early in the morning with Isola Madre. Isola madre stands for "the mother island". It has a lovely mansion that served the Borromeo family made nowadays to a museum with it's furniture and "bona china" to admire.
When it is nearly a lunch time, what place would turn out better than the fisherman's island, in italian "Isola dei Pescatori". It has several excellent and not extremely expensive restaurants. These islands do not produce anything on their own, so everything has to be brought from the mainland and has it's expenses. I have the habit to buy some leather goods from this island, since they are different from what they sell in the mainland and a bit cheaper. Yes. A bit cheaper too.
 |
| Isola Bella |
The last island to visit is Isola Bella, that means "beautiful island". And beautiful it is indeed. Take your caffe corretto (esperesso with grappa) here, and follow to visit the castle and it's garden. You won't be sorry of the time you spend here. Remarkable quantity of shells and small stones are used to decorate the arsenal in the castle and the garden outdoor.
http://www.isoleborromee.it/eng/home.html
 |
| white peacock |
 |
| Rose at Isola Bella and Stresa in the background faded away |
To get there, I take one of those beautiful wooden boats from the harbour although it looks really a touristic trap. I just love the idea to be brought around like a movie star.
You might want to take the public boat service, that appears more expencive.
 |
| lake side villa |
And from Stresa harbour it is easy to go to visit other places of the lake shore, such as Luino in the Lombardian part of the lake and it's market on Wednesdays, Intra and Verbania that have market on Saturdays, and Arona that is the town more south on the same side of the lake than Stresa, also available by bus. Visit a bit further? Then Locarno day trip could do to you. Take a boat round sunrise and get back for the sunset. time table and prices are visible at the cash desk. Their website does not give prices, and the schedule might not be dated.
Another place of interest is Park, Zoo and Villa Pallavicino. This beautiful mansion host a small zoo with the parking just a front of in in the lakes side. From Stresa by foot it is about 800 m. and it is possible to get there with a small "train" http://www.parcozoopallavicino.it/index-en.html
Sporting is not simple at Stresa. Unless your hotel has a tennis court, indoor swimming and other activities. There are no bicycle roads, unless few in the beach boulevard.
Golf can be played a bit further towards to Mottarone: http://www.golfalpino.it
I use to go there for lunch. They had a buffet lunch although the owner might have a bit different view from other standards of what buffet means; prepare to fight when the bill arrives.
Food is excellent, but the service requires some polishing.
 |
| Mottarone top of the mountain |
Mottarone offers wonderful view over 6 lakes in the area and lovely small local restaurants. During the ski season Mottarone can turn out a valid place to start to bring children in touch with winter sports such as skiing and snow boarding. Mottarone has a valid ski school too. My kids learned to ski at Mottarone. Just to give you an idea.
In the summer months Mottarone keeps open "a sort of rollercoaster" with it's spectacular location.
Feel free to comment your experience at Stresa and it's surroundings.
Please ask permission to share photos.
Isole Borromeo, that are three out of four to be visited. Start the day tour early in the morning with Isola Madre. Isola madre stands for "the mother island". It has a lovely mansion that served the Borromeo family made nowadays to a museum with it's furniture and "bona china" to admire. 
No comments:
Post a Comment