The Borromean Islands of Lake Maggiore
The must-do tour from Stresa is to the islands in the Borromeo Gulf. Isola Bella and Isola Madre are known as the Borromean Islands because they were bought by the aristocratic Borromeo family and they still belong to their descendants. The Fishermen's Island is part of Stresa. ISOLA BELLA The incomparable beauty of this island is something unique in the world. Its name literally means Beautiful Island and Isola Bella is undoubtedly beautiful. Only a few people know that its former name was Inferiore (the lower island).Most of Isola Bella is occupied by the sumptuous Baroque palace and by the spectacular formal gardens that were created in the 17th century. In the Palace are many richly decorated rooms that house Flemish tapestries, fine period furniture, Murano glass chandeliers and remarkable paintings. The stunning Grottoes, beautifully decorated with pebbles and volcanic stones, are not to be missed! More :Isola Bella ISOLA MADRE A visit to the peaceful Isola Madre where one can appreciate rare and exotic plants among peacocks and pheasants as well as the important collection of camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas, is something really pleasant. On the island, which was the first one to be bought by the Borromeo family in 1501, there is a Renaissance villa that was used in past centuries as the family's country house.There, amidst portraits and furnishings, the visitor finds some nice rooms dedicated to the puppet theatre. The island's English garden, that replaced the previous olive tree grove, orchard and rosegarden, was established in the 19th century and is definitely well-maintained. THE FISHERMEN'S ISLAND-ISOLA DEI PESCATORI / ISOLA SUPERIORE The Upper Island better known as "The Fishermens' Island" because of the main activity of its inhabitants in the past, is an ideal spot to stop and enjoy a typical meal in the old fishermens' village. Nice old houses, cosy restaurants and a pretty little church to visit that was built in the 17th century on the site of a former medieval church whose original apse is still evident. The old-fashioned village of this small island is inhabited all the year round by local families. Note : The palaces and gardens on Isola Bella and Isola Madre are privately owned, but accessible for public and will be open from 20th March to 25th October 2015 Other places to see VILLA TARANTO The Botanic Gardens of Villa Taranto represent another interesting destination. These memorable gardens spread over a promontory called "La Castagnola" in Pallanza - Verbania and were founded in the 1930s. Their magnificent setting, between the lake and the mountains,was chosen by Scotsman Captain Neil McEachern in 1931 when he purchased the estate and started to collect plants from all over the world in order to realize the dream of a lifetime and create a big English garden that bloom in all seasons. The gardens' natural heritage is exceptional: it counts over 20 000 species and varieties of plants, including rarities. The gardens feature a notable collection of dahlias in summer (hundreds of varieties, really impressive at the end of the season). In April visitors can admire thousands of colourful tulips with an incredible variety of shades, heights and flower shapes in the tulip maze. THE TOWN OF ARONA AND THE STATUE OF SAN CARLO BORROMEO Arona is a nice town at the southern end of Lake Maggiore. A large promenade along the lakefront and a pedestrian street with shops and cafés running parallel lead to the picturesque Piazza del Popolo where the major building is the Broletto known as Casa del Podestà. This piazza has many nice open air cafès and restaurants and specially in summer weekends is a lively meeting point of local people. Quite a number of nice churches were built in the town centre, for example Santa Maria di Loreto (near the Broletto). Just a few minutes' drive from the lake, in the hills behind the town ( in the hamlet of Dagnente), is a colossal statue that features Saint Charles Borromeo, a cardinal and Archbishop of Milan in the 16th century, who was born in Arona. The big statue was made in bronze and copper in the 17th century and it's 23 metres high (if including the pedestal it is 35 metres high). From the port of Arona there is a boat connection to Angera, a lively but smaller city on the eastern shore of the lake. Also from Arona it is possible to take the boat cruising to visit the Borromean Islands but note that the trip takes more time (and costs more too) than from Stresa. STRESA AND MOTTARONE MOUNTAIN Stresa is a town of about 5,000 residents on the shores of Lake Maggiore the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, about 90 kilometres (56 mi) northwest of Milan. Since the early 20th century, the main source of income has been the tourist trade; like other places on Lake Maggiore, it benefits from spectacular views as well as areas of historical and architectural interest. The name of Stresa is synonymous with Lake Maggiore and this town is often referred to as the pearl ofthe lake. The high standards achieved by the hotels in Stresa, as well as its glorious lakeside setting in front of Isola Bella, make it an exclusive place frequented also by VIPs. The most prestigious Hotel in Stresa is The Grand Hotel des îles Borromées that was inaugurated in 1863 where many celebrated guests stayed, like, for instance, the American writer Ernest Hemingway.Nice antique prints and pictures give us the idea of the sophisticated and dreamy atmosphere of Belle Epoque, when European aristocracies used to arrive in Stresa to spend the summer and horse-drawn carriages were waiting at the railway station to accompany them to the Grand Hotel. At that time the fabulous Orient Express train was running and stopping at Stresa.The name of Stresa is linked to the famous Music Festival(Le Settimane Musicali di Stresa) that has been a tradition in town since 1961. Not far from the lake is an elegant residence, Villa Ducale, that was built in the 18th century by a local family called Bolongaro. Today a part of Villa Ducale houses a Museum dedicated to an important catholic philosopher, the Blessed Antonio Rosmini, who died in the villa in 1855, where he spent the last years of his life. But Villa Ducale is also known to have been the summer home of Duchess of Genoa, Elisabetta di Sassonia, whose young daughter was Princess Margherita who married Umberto I di Savoia and in 1878 became Queen Margherita (the first Queen of Italy). The Villa was bought by Margherita's mother in 1857 so Princess Margherita used to come to Stresa every summer as a child. Stresa was always dear to the Queen and the local shortbread biscuits "Le Margheritine di Stresa" were named in her honour. When visiting Stresa, take a trip on the Mottarone cable car (which departs from the Lido cable station, by walking from the center about 15 minutes) for a 20-minute ride to one of the most stunning views in Italy. At the midway stop you can stroll around the Alpine gardens that contain a selection of hundreds of alpine species and offer an amazing view over the Borromeo Gulf and its three beautiful Borromean Islands of Bella, Madre and dei Pescatori set in the glittering waters of Lake Maggiore below. You could walk down to Stresa at this point, but that would mean missing the breathtaking 360-degree view at the top of Mottarone, 1497 metres high (4892 feet high). Jump back on the cable car and carry on to the summit. After a short uphill walk you will be staring in awe across the magnificent Po Valley to the Alps, with the astonishing sight of seven blue lakes (Maggiore, Orta, Mergozzo, Varese, Comabbio, Monate and Biandronno) Note that the cable car runs every twenty minute and that there's a chairlift operating between the cable car top station and the very top of Mount Mottarone CANNOBIO This gem of a town has charm oozing from every corner. Cannobio lies in the northen part of Lake Maggiore, just before the Swiss border. It's a splendid ancient little town that still conserves many old houses and the typical medieval narrow alleys all paved with stones and cobbles. A larg part of Cannobio is traffic free and its promenade along the lake front is probably the largest and most beautiful in the lake. Cannobio is elegant and lively and in this lovely town nothing is left to chance.There is an important Sanctuary by the lake (the Sanctuary of Santissima Pietà) that was built in the 16th century because of a miracle that occured in the village.In Cannobio there is a big and colourful market taking place on Sundays THE ROCCA OF ANGERA & THE DOLLS MUSEUM The Castle of Angera is also known as the Rocca (fortress) Borromea, as it is still owned by the Borromeo family. The building was originally a fortress that was built in the Middle Ages when it was used as a watch tower. The fortress was bought by the Borromeo family in the middle of the 15th century and it was slowly transformed into a castle.The most important room in the castle is "La Sala della Giustizia" (the Hall of Justice) whose walls are painted with a fresco cycle illustrating the victory of Otto Visconti over his enemy Napo Torriani in 1277.In 1988 a nice museum was opened inside:the Dolls Museum which consists of a collection of over one thousand dolls. The evolution of dolls and children's toys through time is shown and the dolls exhibited range from wooden dolls to papier-mache, porcelain and biscuit dolls. There is a separate collection of dolls from all over the world. Angera is a pleasant quiet lake shore city with few hotels and a nice lake side promenade, where you can stop for a drink or aperitivo in of the cafès just on the lake. There is a boat connection to Arona and also to visit Borromean islands but the boat trip is much longer than from Stresa. SANTA CATARINA DEL SASSO - THE HERMITAGE OF ST. CATHERINE The Hermitage of Santa Caterina hangs on a steep cliff on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore not far from Stresa. It's a mystical complex made up of three different buildings: two convents and a church dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria also known as St. Catherine of the Wheel. The history of this place of worship goes back to 1170 when a wealthy merchant called Alberto Besozzi, while sailing on the lake, found himself in the middle of a violent tempest, so he prayed to Saint Catherine to be saved. Once safe on the nearest rocks he kept the vow he had made and spent the rest of his life living there as a hermit. People from surrounding villages slowly began to hold the Blessed Hermit in high esteem and a few shrines were built on that spot on different occasions as a sign of their devotion to him and to Saint Catherine. The contemplative and partially restored small church we can visit nowadays was built in the 16th century. It is rich in frescoes and it incorporates the ancient chapel. Note that the entrance and the stairs have been renovated and there is a comfortable elevator making the access easier for elderly visitors. It is possible to arrive and leave by boat too. Other interesting sights:
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