Quick Guide to Stresa, Piedmont

Published June 30, 2010 at 12:35 p.m.
Stresa lies on the western shores of Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy. A great favourite with travellers to this part of Piedmont, Stresa has an abundance of hotels, good shopping and numerous restaurants, plus great water sport facilities for enjoying Lake Maggiore to the full.
Stresa lies in a spectacular position on the northwest shore of Lake Maggiore, overlooking the Borromean Islands. First documented in 998, the town grew into a fishing community in the 15th century. Acquired by the Borromeo family in the 17th century it later became a very elegant place to stay and part of the "Grand Tour". A popular retreat for members of the aristocracy and European Royalty who built spectacular villas along its shoreline. An inspiration to artists, composers and writers alike, its popularity rose even further with the opening  of the Simplon Pass railway in 1906. Today Stresa is still elegant, yet quaint with an old-world charm and a main promenade still lined with palm trees, manicured gardens and impressive looking hotels. A truly, picture perfect location.





Stresa Must Do - Top Ten Tips:
1) Visit Villa Ducale built in 1771, passed to the Italian philosopher Antonio Rosmini-Serbati in 1848 and home to the International Centre for Rosminian Studies.2) Stroll along the promenade and enjoy the picture perfect views of the islands.3) Take a ferry or taxi boat across to the nearby Borromean Islands of Bella, Madre and Pescatori.4) See Villa Pallavicino, built in 1855 just outside the town, now the site of a zoological park.5) Enjoy the area away from the shoreline, around the triangular Piazza Cadorna. 6) Take the 20 minute cable car ride to the summit of Monte Mottarone for fantastic panoramic views.7) See the Church of Ss Crocifisso at the Collegio Rosmini, hosting the tomb of Antonio Rosmini.8) Visit the gardens at nearby Villa Taranto, created by Scotsman Captain Neil McEacharn.9) Visit Villa Dell'Orto, built in 1900 and designed by Boffi for the painter Liberto Dell'Orto.10) Ride the Lake Maggiore Express, an unforgettable trip by narrow gauge railway and ferry.
Local Events:
Friday Mornings from 08:00 to 13:00: Stresa's Market is in Piazza Capucci, in autumn keep an eye out for the local salami and sausages, in summer look out for blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. Make sure you buy some "Toma" the most Piemontese cheese.
April 25th to May 1st:  "Tulip Week" at Villa Taranto.
Stresa hosts one of Italy’s most important international classical music festivals:  
From May 8th 2010: "Settimane Musicali di Stresa", the Spring concert season.From July 30th to August 9th: "Settimane Musicali di Stresa", the Musical Meditations season.From August 22nd to September 5th: "Settimane Musicali di Stresa", the Visions season.
November: "Il festival del gusto" (The Taste Festival) offering the chance to taste new wines, local produce in and around the town.

Food and Drink:
Stresa is a place for fish lovers and this is a great opportunity to taste a number of Lake Maggiore's fish. Start with Perch, the symbol of the lake, Stresa's restaurants serve delicious perch fillets and great perch risotto dishes.  Other lake fish include bleak, carp, char, pike, tench, trout and whitefish. Mountain flavours also abound, alpine cheeses like Bettelmatt, cold cuts of meat such as Val Vigezzo smoked ham as well as local game. All washed down with a great Piedmont wine, what could be better?
Spotlight on the "Stresa-Alpino-Mottarone Cable Car" (Mottarone Funivia)
The Stresa-Alpino-Mottarone cable car sets off from the hamlet of Carciano di Stresa and takes only 10 minutes to reach its first stop, Giardino Alpinia station. Here, at the midway point of the journey, is a chance to stop for a moment and enjoy this lovely location overlooking the Borromeo Gulf. There is a café just outside the station and nearby the Alpine Gardens created in 1934, (admission included with your cable car ticket) are open from April to mid October and feature hundreds of alpine and sub alpine plants. Reaching the...Mottarone station takes a further 10 minutes. Outside the station, there is a restaurants close by and from here you can now take the new chair lift to the summit of Mount Mottarone 1,491 m (4,892 ft). On a clear day, there are 360° panoramic views of the Alps, the Po Valley down to Milan and seven lakes: Biandronno, Comabbio, Mergozzo, Monate, Orta, Varese and of course Maggiore. A true balcony in the heavens with an unsurpassed vista. The cable car runs every 20 minutes, everyday. In winter: 08:30 to 17:00 (last descent) and in summer: 09:30 to 17:40 (last descent). There is a break for lunch between 12:30 and 13:30...Make sure to check the time of the last descent on arrival at the top, as it is a very long walk back down!

How to Get There:

Stresa is about 60 km Northwest of Milan and about 100 km Northeast of Turin in the Province of Verbania, Piedmont.
By Plane: The most convenient airports to Vercelli are Milano Malpensa, 40 km, Milano Linate, 105 km and Turin Caselle, 145 km. All are well served by major airlines and budget ones such as Easyjet and Ryanair.
By Train: From Malpensa take a bus to Gallarate station from where you can take a train to Stresa. The Gallarate bus runs from both Terminals 1 and 2. The journey takes about 2 hours and costs about 6 euro. Stresa is situated on the Milan to Domodossola line, so Stresa railway station is a great starting point from which to explore the surrounding area.
By Bus: From Malpensa Terminal 1 there is direct service to Stresa on Alibus five times a day. The journey takes about 45 minutes and costs 10.50 euro one way...Look for a bus with a window sign: Verbania/Malpensa. Check www.safduemila.com for further information as this service is seasonal and you will need to make an advanced reservation.
By Car: From Milan: Take the A8 Autostrada, direction Laghi - Sesto Calende, then A26 Autostrada direction Gravellona Toce. Either exit at Arona and follow SS 33 up to Stresa for about 18 km keeping the lake on your right hand side or continue on the A26 and exit at Baveno/Stresa where the road takes you straight to the lakeside. Then drive back to Stresa for about 5 Km, keeping the lake on your left hand side. Stresa is about an hour north of Milan
From Turin: Take the A4 Autostrada, direction Milan, exit at the junction with the A26 Autostrada and take direction Gravellona Toce. Exit at Carpugnino and take the SP39 down into Stresa. Stresa is about an hour and a half from Turin and Turin airport.

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