For those of you here or visiting this summer, below find several upcoming Summer events and special activities involving Isola Bella. Two of them bring you to Isola Bella at night, the third gives you a great view of said island from Stresa, lit up at night, while the fourth tranquilly transports you around the islands at night. The dilemma will be how to fit them all into your plans!
Bella By Night
Every Friday, from 13 June through 29 August, 2014, Isola Bella is hosting Calici Sotto Le Stelle, Glasses Under the Stars. A 10 Euro ticket gets you transport to Isola Bella, a wine glass (the calice), and your first drink. On the island you'll find live music and vendors selling street food, while island restaurants and bars will also be open and joining in the fun. Drinks are discounted in establishments participating in this promotion. Each Friday evening a different type of music will be offered, beginning with Beatles and Rolling Stones classics!
The last Saturday of each month a similar event is offered, called Sabato al'Isola, Saturday at the Island. By making a dinner reservation at a restaurant on the island participating in the promotion, you receive free transport to and from. There will be live music on the island also on these nights.
Transport to the island begins at 20.00 (8:00 pm), from the Carciano dock (where the cableway station is).
Transport to the island begins at 20.00 (8:00 pm), from the Carciano dock (where the cableway station is).
( Continued ... )
Live Jazz At Verbanella
A classic summer event by now, and now more than once a week, the Verbanella Live Jazz evening schedule has been posted. Live bands will perform every Thursday and Friday throughout much of the summer. The June schedule is on the poster below. Find more information about these evenings and other events at Verbanella on their website: http://www.verbanella-stresa.com/ Be sure to sit outside, for the nice breezes, the lower volume of jazz, and the great view of the lake and island. And when at Verbanella, remember that they are famous for their bartenders and cocktails, so be sure to order something fun!
La Notte Sul Lago
It's an Italian version of a pub crawl, or maybe more accurately, a progressive dinner party. Having begun at the end of May, this event is happening every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening through 6 September. Here's how it works: With a 10 Euro special water taxi ticket, you can traverse between Stresa, Suna in Verbania, and Isola Bella, creating an evening to remember.
The restaurants involved are these: In Suna (part of Verbania), have aperitivo at Estrema Dura where there will be live music (one of my favorite before and after dinner bars by the way), then a few steps walk to the charming Ristorante Monterosso for dinner. (Remember I recently wrote about this Michelin-rated restaurant? Well here's another way to try it!)
Instead, beginning in Stresa, aperitivo will be at the stunning Sky Bar of La Palma Hotel* (my favorite view with cocktails bar), then the evening continues to the island as above, then back to Stresa.
Or, after aperitivo at either place, take the taxi across to Isola Bella for dinner at Ristorante Delfino, the other restaurant involved in the promotion.
You create the evening, with your 10 Euro taxi ticket.
And remember [see above Bella by Night event] there will be other events and live music on the island on certain evenings, so plan accordingly depending on whether you want this or not.
Reservations are being handled at Estrema Dura, 0323 504282, or can be made in Stresa at the tour ticket stand on the lake across from the La Palma Hotel. The normal ferries do not travel in the evenings, making this a fantastic way to visit Isola Bella at night and see how Stresa looks from there.
Here's the water taxi schedule for the La Notte sul Lago evenings as it travels back and forth:
-From Pallanza 18.20 arriving at Suna at 18.30, departing for Isola Bella to arrive their at 18,45 , then on to Stresa, arriving at 19.00.
-Then once more, departing Suna at 20,30 to arrive at sola Bella at 20,45, and then returning to Stresa arriving at 21,00.
And once more, leaving from Stresa at 21,30, to Isola Bella arriving at 21,45, then to Suna arriving at Suna at 22,00.
-And again, Suna at 23,30 to Isola Bella at 23,45, then to Stresa arriving at 24,00.
-And finally, leaving Stresa at 24,00 and arriving at Isola Bella at 24.15 (15 past midnight), then continuing to Suna the last time, and finally, lastly arriving back at Pallanza, around 24.30 (half past midnight).**
*Only Thursday and Friday at Sky Bar.
**All times are approximate.
Again, Estrema Dura is handling reservations, or the ticket booth outside La Palma, or, contact any of the involved establishments for more information.
Always ask at the Stresa Tourist Office for current events and schedules happening during your visit!