Al San Michele is in a very peacful corner of Stresa yet close to the historical centre to discover our lakes and mountains which make our area one of the most beautiful destinations of the world!
A short walk away are the beaches, the shops, restaurants and all the services, including the Boat Station where boats depart for the famous Borromean Islands, the Monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso and other areas of the lake, such as Verbania Intra with the Villa Taranto and its English style park and as far as Ascona and Locarno in Switzerland.
A pleasant walk brings you to the Villa Pallavicino surrounded by a magnificent park with many animals.
The surroundings offer also some routes for bike lovers and footpaths for pleasant excursions.
From Stresa you can reach the Lakes of Mergozzo and Orta with it’s fascinating Island of San Giulio.
You can also go to Mottarone, the mountain above Stresa, from where you can see a fantastic panorama over seven lakes and enjoy a ride on the track of Alpyland.
On the way to Mottarone you can stop off to visit the Alpinia Garden, 40.000 sq meters of a natural balcony where a relaxing rest offers a view over Lake Maggiore and observing many alpine plants including blue gentians and to quench one’s thirst at the mountain spring available by the garden.
All around, the Ossola Valleys, offer a variety of itineraries to mountain enthusiasts with walks on footpaths which climb into an uncontaminated area of nature which dominate the entire territory, with Macugnaga and the imposing east Himalayan wall of Monte Rosa, the Valley Formazza with the spectacular waterfall of the Toce river and the Thermal Springs of Premia, the Valley Vigezzo knows as the valley of painters for the many landscape artists and portaiture, the National Park of Val Grande, wild and rugged in which is located the Mother Quarry of the Milan Cathedral at Candoglia, the Natural Parks of Alpe Veglia e Devero and upper Valle Antrona.
A great excursion to make is the “Lago Maggiore Express”, a daily circular journey, which can he made in both drections by boat on Lake Maggiore and train through the Centovalli and the Valley Vigezzo.
From Verbania Intra you can reach by the boat, Luino, where there is a nice market on Wednesdays a magnet for many tourists.
In addition, the Associazione Settimane Musicali di Stresa organises every year, between July, August and September, the “Stresa Festival” offering musical events of high artistic value in many different prestigious locations.
If you need further advice I’ll be happy to help you.
Marisa