Stresa
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 30 December 2023
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The lakeside town of Stresa is situated in the Verbano Cusio Ossola Province, on the shores of Lake Maggiore. It has a population of around 5,000 residents and is located 138 kilometres north east of Turin, the regional capital of Piedmont.
Perhaps the most famous town around the lake, it works well both as a resort and as a base from which to explore its other sights. |
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Liberty-style grandeur
It wasn't until the early twentieth century that Stresa became a popular tourist destination but by the 1920's and 1930's and the advent of international rail travel, it was booming. The elegant Liberty-style buildings looking out on to the lake create a sense of grandeur which is repeated around the small town centre.
The busiest area of the town is around Piazza Cadorna, a tree-lined and triangular-shaped piazza edged with restaurants and shops. This is a great place for a spot of people-watching and to soak up the town's relaxed atmosphere. Piazza Cadorna is set back just a little bit from the lake, accessed from the narrow Via Principe Tommaso which along with Via Roma, is one of the main shopping streets in the town.
The busiest area of the town is around Piazza Cadorna, a tree-lined and triangular-shaped piazza edged with restaurants and shops. This is a great place for a spot of people-watching and to soak up the town's relaxed atmosphere. Piazza Cadorna is set back just a little bit from the lake, accessed from the narrow Via Principe Tommaso which along with Via Roma, is one of the main shopping streets in the town.
Lakeside walks
The centrepiece of Stresa is its lakefront where you can take a long, ambling walk in either direction or around the carefully-manicured Giardini Pubblici at the lake's edge. The walk along the lakeside will take you past Stresa's collection of grand palazzi, most of which are hotels, that go a long way to create the town's sense of grandeur.
If you take a 15 minute walk south-east of the town centre along the main lakeside road, you'll reach the beautiful gardens of Villa Pallavicino. For anyone with a passing interest in gardens, this is an area where you're spoilt for choice.
From Piazza Marconi at the water's edge in the town centre, you can use the Lake Maggiore ferry network to access all of the many highlights around the lake. One of the favourite excursions from here is to take the short hop across to the beautiful Borromean Islands.
If you take a 15 minute walk south-east of the town centre along the main lakeside road, you'll reach the beautiful gardens of Villa Pallavicino. For anyone with a passing interest in gardens, this is an area where you're spoilt for choice.
From Piazza Marconi at the water's edge in the town centre, you can use the Lake Maggiore ferry network to access all of the many highlights around the lake. One of the favourite excursions from here is to take the short hop across to the beautiful Borromean Islands.
The Borromean Islands
The islands are clearly visible from Stresa: the Isola dei Pescatori offers picture-postcard scenes from the lake's shore while Isola Bella is as beautiful as its name suggests with its white peacocks roaming freely around a spectacular garden.
A little further towards the centre of the lake, a third island of the group, Isola Madre has its own beautiful garden and its own, multi-coloured peacocks. From Isola Madre it's just a short hop across the lake to the city of Verbania which can boast Italy's most beautiful garden at Villa Taranto.
A little further towards the centre of the lake, a third island of the group, Isola Madre has its own beautiful garden and its own, multi-coloured peacocks. From Isola Madre it's just a short hop across the lake to the city of Verbania which can boast Italy's most beautiful garden at Villa Taranto.
Exploring beyond Stress
Nearby treasures are not merely restricted to the lake; on the land side you can take a cable car up the 1,492 metres to Mount Mottarone which overlooks Stresa. A different form of transport can be used for another popular excursion from the town: the Lago Maggiore Express is a scenic train ride through the nearby Centovalli region.
From Stresa you first take a train north to the town of Domodossola before boarding a narrow-gauge train through the picturesque hills and valleys before arriving at the town of Locarno, across the Swiss border at the northern end of the lake. From Locarno you then take a leisurely cruise down the lake back to Stresa for a wonderful day out.
To reach Stresa from abroad it's best to fly into Milan Malpensa Airport which is just under an hour away by car or slightly longer with the Alibus transfer. You can also reach Stresa by train: from Milan it takes an hour and seven minutes with the same train continuing north to Domodossola.
From Stresa you first take a train north to the town of Domodossola before boarding a narrow-gauge train through the picturesque hills and valleys before arriving at the town of Locarno, across the Swiss border at the northern end of the lake. From Locarno you then take a leisurely cruise down the lake back to Stresa for a wonderful day out.
To reach Stresa from abroad it's best to fly into Milan Malpensa Airport which is just under an hour away by car or slightly longer with the Alibus transfer. You can also reach Stresa by train: from Milan it takes an hour and seven minutes with the same train continuing north to Domodossola.
Comune di Stresa
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Province: Verbano Cusio Ossola
Region: Piedmont Population: 4,627 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 33 km² Elevation: 200 metres Highlights: Piazza Cadorna, Giardini Pubblici, architecture Close by: Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori, Baveno, Villa Taranto Recommended accommodation: Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees |
