Photo Markus Bernet, CC BY-SA 2.0
Verbano-Cusio-Ossola · Piedmont
Things to see in Stresa
In Stresa the atlas lists 15 historic places: 11 historic villas and palaces and 4 museums.
Of these, 1 list opening hours and 2 have free entry.
Don’t miss: Palazzo Borromeo, palazzo on Isola Bella, Stresa, Italy.
By date of construction, the most common period is the Modern era (100% of dated places).
- 15historic places
- 4,599inhabitants
- 207 maltitude
The town
Stresa is a small town (population 5,000) on the south side of the Borromean Bay, a western arm of Lake Maggiore in Piedmont, Northern Italy. The Borromean Islands (Isole Borromee) are a group of three small islands, Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori (also called Isola Superiore) and Isola Madre, and two islets in the Borromean Bay and together totalling just 20 ha in area. They are very picturesque, especially the ornate palaces and gardens of Isola Bella and Isola Madre.
Text from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA, abridged · Wikivoyage
15 places
Villas and palaces 11
Museums 4
Getting there
By train: Trenord runs regular direct train services from Milan Centrale Station taking around 1 hour.
By bus: S.A.F. runs the Alibus from both terminals of Malpensa Airport through Stresa, terminating at Verbania, seasonally Apr-Oct. Services are 2–3 hours apart. You must book by 11am the previous day (by 11am Sa for Monday trips). Buy tickets on board, cash only. €12.
By car: Follow the directions for the A26 Genova - Gravellona Toce motorway. Take the A26 motorway towards Gravellona Toce. Keep in the direction of Gravellona Toce until the Carpugnino exit. In Carpugnino follow the signs for Stresa.
From Milan by car: Take A8 towards Laghi - Sesto Calende - Varese. Take the A26 towards Gravellona Toce. The closest exit to Stresa is Carpugnino (panoramic road) while the simplest exit is Baveno-Stresa (it stretches about 5 km).
By boat: Navigazione Laghi provides ferry services around Lake Maggiore, from Arona in the south to Locarno at the northern end in Switzerland. The most frequent services are around the Borromean Bay, between Verbania, Baveno, the Borromean Islands and Stresa; a few of these stop at Carciano, as well as the main dock.
Text from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA, abridged · Wikivoyage
What to see, according to Wikivoyage
Alpine Garden (Giardino Botanico Alpinia) (part way up Mount Mottarone). Alpine and subalpine plants in 4 hectares. Not the most impressive garden, but has good views. Can be reached by car. Can also be reached by the cable car. The toilet is of the squat type. €4.
Isola Bella. Late Mar – late Oct 9am–5:30pm last entrance. Consists of a four-story Lombard Baroque palace and an Italianate garden. Palace, painting gallery & garden, adult €22, child 6–15 €13. Same day ticket for this & Isola Madre, adult €34, child €19.
Isola dei Pescatori or Isola Superiore. The village has charming houses and narrow streets. Its permanent population of 50 people is occupied in fishing and tourism. The Church of San Vittore still has its original apse with a lancet window dating from the 11th century. There are numerous restaurants, specialising in fish dishes. It's not a private island, so there's no entry fees or opening hours.
Isola Madre. Late Mar – late Oct 9am–5:30pm last entrance. Palazzo (grand residence) and a botanical garden that is less formal than that of Isola Bella. Palace & garden, adult €19, child 6–15 €11. Same day ticket for this & Isola Bella, adult €34, child €19..
Text from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA, abridged · Wikivoyage · Underlined names link to our own pages.