There is plenty to see in the town. Piazza Marconi, with its landing stage and the Church of San Ambrogio, stretches back from the beach. Meanwhile Stresa looks out over Lombardy, to Cerro and Laveno, and as far as the Rock of Calde. From here you can see the Piedmont bank of the lake. The peaks of Castagnola, Pallanza and Monte Rosso rise 613 metres above sea level, and give way to the Ossola Mountains.
And every half hour, boats leave to tour the Borromeo Islands - a marvellous day's excursion.
Isola Bella was begun in 1670, when Count Vitaliano Borromeo started construction of the monumental baroque palace. He undertook the landscaping of the gardens for which the Island became so famous, and which still impresses today.
The Borromeo residence contains priceless masterpieces - tapestries, furniture, and paintings by great masters.
The gardens are rich with an incredible variety of trees and rare flowers. Together, over a succession of ornate terraces, they provide a classical example of the Italian garden of the period.
Isola Madre is the largest of the Borromeos. A remarkable, tranquil place, it has an atmosphere of silence, meditation and enchantment. In a garden of exotic plants and flowers, white peacocks, parrots and pheasant fly in total freedom, giving the feeling of a tropical island. Isola Madre is famous for its abundant azaleas, rhododendrons and camelias. In 1978, the 16th century palace was opened to the public, and the interior is particularly interesting for its well-preserved decor and for the collections of uniforms, dolls and ceramics collection.
And Isola Pescatori, or Fishermen's Island, is just that. The fascination lies in the simple, unspoiled houses seemingly untouched by time. Some excellent restaurants give you the chance to taste the best fish from the lake.
This hotel in Piedmont offers style, luxury, old-fashioned elegance, and a dozen ways to fill your days. Find more on how to book this hotel on the Italian Lakes.
