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Friday, January 27, 2012

Il Pedum -- The Head Of Napoleon

Take a look at the mountain range in this photo of Isola Pescatori:


Now, tell me what you see. And don't worry, this isn't one of those psychological tests. Take a look again, this time in this close-up, at the ridges along the top. The most snowy part:


If you still don't see anything, maybe tilt your head toward your right shoulder, so that you can look at the mountaintops sideways. Anything now? Starting on the right, can you see a forehead and bushy, curly hair, a distinguished nose, and a bit of beard covering the chin and neck? Because everyone here in Stresa was telling me that I should see these things. I thought they were pulling my leg. Come on, they said, don't tell me you don't see Napoleon III!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Friends Of Stresa Sights: John

A reader named John sent me these two lovely photographs after he read the post "5 Things To Do On A Winter Day In Stresa." He and his wife had just done exactly that, deciding this winter to spend their New Year's Eve here. They had a lovely time, echoing my sentiments in the post about Stresa's winter charms, and they want to share their experience with other readers:

We live in Switzerland and have traveled to Stresa many times over the years by car and train. Last year we decided to escape the big New Year celebrations around Montreux and took the Cisalpino to Stresa on the afternoon of the 31st of December. We stayed with Gianni Saini in one of our favorite rooms [at Hotel Saini], indulged in several glasses of Rose Prosecco chez Massimo and dined in the typically brilliant Vicoletto. No band, no fanfare, no special menu, just Stresa in Winter. Magic.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

FYI: Lago Maggiore


This view of Lago Maggiore is near one of my favorite spots, the towns high above Stresa. This is in the vicinity of, a bit to the west of, the Giardino Alpinia; one of the towers for the cableway can be seen in the lower right. Verbania is the heavily populated area across from the islands, we are looking directly up the lake in the direction of Switzerland, and across the lake on the right is Laveno, in Lombardia.

Search Lago Maggiore online, read about Lago Maggiore, and you know what you will find? A lot of tourist information, and a lot of adjectives: magical, unspoiled, panoramic, picturesque, sinuous. It is described as having gentle shores, intense colors, mild climates, and lush vegetation. 

But you know what I noticed?

I noticed that here on Stresa Sights, while we have mentioned Lago Maggiore countless times, also with many adjectives, we have never really spoken factually about Lago Maggiore. So I think it is high time that we remedy that and present a little bit of information about this gorgeous, glorious, tranquil lake that you've come to see.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Winter: 5 Things (And More!) To Do On A Winter Day In Stresa


Okay. There's no denying that Stresa is a very different place in winter and summer. Just take a look at Piazza Cadorna:
Summer
Winter

What is Stresa like in the winter? The umbrellas and outdoor tables are gone, and so are the crowds. In their place there is only empty piazza, and some construction crews doing maintenance work and renovations during the off season. The large hotels along the lungolago are, for the most part, closed up until spring. When I searched on Booking.com for Stresa in January the result shows only two hotels open in Stresa, one more on Mt. Mottarone, and two BandBs. It is the same with restaurants. Some are closed for the season, some have only small seating areas inside instead of their outdoor terraces and gardens, and some have greatly reduced hours. The main tourist attractions, the Borromeo islands and properties, and all of the gardens, are also all closed until spring.

But that isn't going to stop us from doing (at least!) 5 awesome things here, right? 

Monday, January 2, 2012

Welcome 2012


Buon Anno!

Welcome 2012... I can't wait to see what you bring! 

Last year was such a wonderful year for Stresa Sights... Our readership grew, we answered dozens of mails from readers, and we helped so many create lifetime memories in Stresa. For those who didn't come here this year, we kept them up to date on events in Stresa, with the hopes that they'll come soon or remember the times they spent here. We also have made Stresa and this particularly lovely corner of Italy better known to so many who really weren't aware of it before. And we started a page on Facebook to follow our posts with, for those who prefer to receive their information there. If you're on Facebook then friend us here:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stresa-Sights/225333370827045. We have become, it is safe to say, the number 1 English language resource for current information on Stresa.

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STRESA SIGHTS by DANA KAPLAN

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