Holiday apartment in Stresa for culture and history
Villa Ducale is the oldest villa in Stresa and was built around 1770 by the Bolongaro family. From 1850 to 1855, it was the residence of the abbot and philosopher Antonio Rosmini. Its garden preserves traces of formal Italian garden design from the late 17th century. Stresa's parish church also reflects the town's architectural history: it was designed at the end of the 18th century in the form of a Greek cross in the Corinthian order. The Settimane Musicali di Stresa was established in 1961.
Various museums and places associated with artists offer further insights. The Centro Internazionale di Studi Rosminiani includes a Historical Museum, Antonio Rosmini's room and a park. The Museo Artistico Sala Pietro Canonica displays restored sculptures in an exhibition space on the ground floor of Stresa Town Hall. Casa Studio Andrea Ruffoni presents the artist's works in a studio house and garden. In the garden of Villa Pallavicino, the Pallavicino family established a wildlife museum in 1956; Parco Pallavicino is home to 50 species of mammals and birds.
Borromean Islands: Gardens, palaces and island culture
On Isola Bella, Palazzo Borromeo contains historic rooms, the Galleria del Generale Berthier and a collection of 130 paintings. Palazzo Borromeo on the Borromean Islands also contains historic reception rooms as well as a collection of marionettes and historic theatre sets. The Baroque Italian garden of Isola Bella consists of ten terraces and has the Teatro Massimo at its centre. One of the Borromean Islands is also home to an English-style botanical park with rare plants and flowers from many different regions.
Isola dei Pescatori reveals another side of the lake. Its village can be explored on foot along paved lanes. Many multi-storey houses have long balconies where fish was once dried. The Ecomuseo della Pesca presents the art of fishing as well as the life, work, history and traditions of the island. For a trip combining different interests, this makes it possible to combine focused cultural experiences with walks through a village landscape typical of the islands.
Nature, high-altitude paths and views
Giardino Alpinia extends over approximately 40,000 square metres and contains 1,000 predominantly alpine plant species at an altitude of 800 metres. The summit of Mottarone reaches 1,491 metres and offers views of seven lakes, the Alps and the Po Valley. Mottarone has numerous paths and routes for hiking, cycling and horse riding. In the highlands above Stresa, you will also find varied walking paths towards Mottarone and Alto Vergante. These differences help with planning: a holiday apartment in Stresa is suitable for a stay that brings together the lake, islands, culture and mountain landscape in a single destination.
Orientation between the lakeshore and higher elevations
The Stresa Town Trail begins in front of the Stresa tourist office and ferry station. A scheduled service operated by Navigazione Lago Maggiore connects Arona, Stresa and Locarno. The “For All” route connects Isola dei Pescatori with Giardino Alpinia and is designated as accessible for tourists with special needs. The combination of starting points on the lake, island destinations and paths at higher elevations opens up various possibilities for planning each day, without every activity having to follow the same rhythm.
Local traditions are also part of Stresa's character. The Feast of Saint Ambrose in Stresa takes place on 7 December as a day of remembrance for the town's patron saint. Margheritine are traditional biscuits from Stresa.
Further places for orientation: Isola Superiore, Quarna Sotto, Pontegrande, Antrona Schieranco, Ceppo Morelli, Bracchio, Quarna Sopra, Cavaglio-Spoccia.
