Are you going to the Stresa market in Piazza Capucci this Friday? If so, and if you enter or exit from Via Bolongaro, then watch out for the tall guy! He's there every Friday, just next to the ATM, standing still, silent, and statue-like as people walk past him, many totally unaware of his presence. Then, he chooses a victim... someone in conversation perhaps, or someone standing with their back to him... and suddenly he will spring to life with a pat on their back or a tap on their shoulder. He causes many a good scare and lots of loud screams and laughter. And so I warn you about him. Watch for him and let him choose another victim... you just go and enjoy the market!



While we're talking about music, it's time for another reminder about the Stresa Festival and a list of the remaining concerts. This third part of the annual festival is dedicated to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the event. It's been 50 years since the first festival was organized in Stresa by Italo Trentinaglia, you can read about that in this post, and if you are in Stresa you can stop by the Palazzo dei Congressi now through September 4 to see the special exhibition celebrating the fifty years of the Settmane Musicali di Stresa.

This autumn part of the Festival, entitled 'Notes from a Journey', Note di Viaggio, began last Sunday with the concert 'Happy Birthday Festival!' at the Congressi by the Stresa Festival Orchestra, with Festival director Gianandrea Noseda conducting. Burvenich, Sostakovic and Brahms were played.  Monday evening fortunate concert-goers listened to 'Brass on the Island', performed by London Brass in the Loggia del Cashmere on Isola Madre. And last night, 'One Night at Bach's', at the Chiesa Madonna di Campagna in Verbania....

This is Stresa's new water station. The Casa dell'Acqua is located just a few short streets from Piazza Cadorna, and centrally located enough to hotels, lake, and train station. Whenever you're passing by, or when starting your day of sightseeing, or, when heading back to your room after a long day,  make this part of your route.

The official tourist office of Stresa, Ufficio Turistico Citta di Stresa, is located at the Stresa imbarcadero, on the right side of that building. It is organized and run by the City of Stresa, and therefore it has no ties to any of the individual tour or travel agencies. During the tourist season the office is usually staffed with at least two employees, and all of them are multilingual. There should always be someone on hand who can assist you in Italian, English, German, or French, and possibly a bit of some other languages as well.