Lake Maggiore

To the tourist, who for the first time arrives in Stresa, a breathless sight is offered. In the beginning, a superb window of the lakefront, delineated with lines of palm trees, with flourishing gardens and facades of grand hotels. Then, turning to look at the lake, enchanted, as if emerging from the same waters the spectacular Borromean Islands (Isola Bella, Isola Madre, and Isola dei Pescatori).

It is enough the splendor of these visions to make one understand how Stresa has been able to become one of the maximum meetings of international tourism. Stresa, already in the middle half of the 19th century was the most elegant place to stay, the most visited by the international upper middle class.

Isola Bella

On this island just across from Stresa, in 1670 Count Vitaliano Borromeo starter the construction of the impressive baroque palace. He began to landscape the majestic scenery of the gardens for which the Island, easily reachable by boat from Stresa, became so famous, and which today still bear witness of the splendors of that bygone age. The royal Borromeo residence contains priceless masterpieces: tapestries, furniture, and paintings by great masters. The gardens bloom with every variety of trees and rare flowers which, in their succession of magnificent terraces, provide a classic, inimitable example of the celebrated "Italian garden" of that period.

This guide covers the Lake Maggiore, and the town of Stresa in addition to the one-day trips you can make from one of these towns to the Borromean Islands, the Angera castle, Santa Caterina del Sasso, Locarno, Mottarone, Villa Taranto, and the Centovalli railway. It also covers Nature Parks and Wilderness Areas near the lake.

There are extensive descriptions and photos of the attractions.

It has also a listing of many reviews for the best-recommended restaurants that are within walking distance from the boat pier or the train station.