WELCOME TO STRESA SIGHTS, AND HOPEFULLY TO STRESA!

Are you here because you are coming to Stresa on holiday? Or are you here deciding whether it will be your next vacation location? Either way, welcome! This blog, which began in 2008, contains information and resources that hopefully will be useful to you. Information is regularly updated, so that, even if a post is older, the links and information contained in it should be current. 

The best way to use the blog is to use the search bar, if you are looking for specific information, or to choose a subject that interests you, such as "Outdoor Activities," and read through the posts on that list. Many will have links leading you to other websites to continue and expand your research. 

The blog also has links and information on some very popular searches, such as the information for the Alibus shuttle bus between Malpensa Airport and Stresa, the Stresa Music Festival, Trenitalia, and the Stresa ferries (Navigazione Laghi), as well as handy information for once you are here in Stresa, such as where to park, where the supermarkets are, and so on.

The Borromeo islands, Villa Taranto, Rocca Angera and Parco Pallavicino are all getting ready to open again. The winter hibernation is over, and the 2019 season is beginning! And as you can see from the following photographs, everything else in Stresa is opening too:

Representatives from Stresa accept the 2014 Four Golden Flowers Plaque at the Comune Fioriti 2014 awards ceremony in Bologna. 

After the recent news of Stresa being chosen as one of 20 real-life fairy tale locations in Italy, comes news of another award for Stresa. Once again, Stresa has triumphed in the national contest sponsored by Asproflor (the Association of Flower Growers). This year saw the participation of 140 municipalities, representing all 20 Italian regions. The awards ceremony was held in Bologna at the EIMA fair.

How did Stresa do? Great! Following a tradition of many years of winning different awards in this competition, this year Stresa came away with a Silver Plaque overall. In addition, Stresa took the first prize for communities with more than 5,000 inhabitants. 

And most impressively, Stresa this year won the coveted quattro fiori d'oro, Four Golden Flowers Plaque, which each year is awarded to only one municipality in all of Italy.  

Representatives of Stresa who accepted the award proudly said in acceptance, "These awards given to the city are a result not only of the Administration, but of all citizens and operators, who invest energy and resources to beautify our territory." And the awards are an incentive, they said, to do more, "for those who live in Stresa and its visitors."

Easing back into normal routines after a lovely break of a few weeks. And what better way to return to reality than with a reminder that, although very real, living in Stresa is sometimes much like living in a fairy tale. Here, in online publication Swide, Stresa's Isola Bella is chosen as one of "20 Real-Life Fairy Tale Places in Italy."

As Swide says:

Two days ago I had the honor of attending the memorial ceremony at the 9/11 monument in Stresa. Here are some photos I took during the solemn, deeply moving service. 

Good, basic information; Stresa is blissfully out of the spotlight compared to Lake Como, they say, and I agree that is true. So we keep it our little secret, yes? At least a little while longer. Read what they had to say:   

(   Continued   ... )

Lush, red geraniums define each and every balcony of the hotel.

The prize has been presented, and the winner is the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees! Last week, the organization Asproflor presented its award for "The most flowery hotel in Italy" to the director of Stresa's five-star Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees. The competition is organized by Asproflor, in collaboration with the tourist district of the Italian lakes, with the belief that the beauty of flowers not only adds to the already natural beauty of the region, but actually adds to their appeal among tourists when choosing vacation destinations.

(   Continued   ...   )

Not to frighten anyone, but there has been some really crazy weather happening recently in this area. Just take a look at these photos:

(   continued ... )

In this addition of News Bites, we present information about a new hotel, an old garage, a small theater, and a big race. Enjoy!

Personally, I must say I am very happy for this news. A new hotel will be built in Stresa, between Hotel La Palma and Hotel des Iles Borromees, on a site that currently holds just an eyesore of overgrown ruins. It has taken more than two years of tense negotiations, but the Stresa Comune gave approval for the project recently, and hopefully works will begin before too long. The hotel will be the first new one to be built in Stresa since 1955, and it is expected to have a designation of 4 or 5 stars. It seems that two of the three old villas on the property, Mona Villa and Villa of San Basile Rizzo, may in fact be incorporated into the design, preserving them and also renovating them. To me, it's a win-win.

(   continued ...  )

Last August a terrible micro-tornado devastated the beautiful, almost one-hundred-year-old gardens of Villa Taranto (read here). In the immediate aftermath of that storm the damage seemed so vast that initially it was thought the garden would remain closed indefinitely. I'm so happy to tell you that instead of an indefinite closure, Villa Taranto opened this season on its normal opening date of March 16. I visited recently, and to be honest, I am in awe. There is (almost) no sign at all of the storm. (Almost) nothing to indicate it even occurred. I cannot imagine the works and organization that must have taken place all during the winter to make this happen. Huge kudos to everyone at Villa Taranto ... this is one job extremely well done. Following are some photos from my visit there last week.  

(   continued ...  )

Just enough news to enjoy with your cappuccino...

In this edition we have news about swimming, signs, and spring.

The new pool at Lido Carciano should be open at the end of May, or at the latest in the first days of June. It's been some years in the planning and building, and a year of a shut down of the works due to the financial crisis, but finally the pool is ready for its inauguration. La piscina, the pool, is located at the edge of the lake near the Carciano boat station, has a panoramic view of the Borromean Islands, was designed by architetto Fabrizio Bianchetti and cost more than one million euro. No word yet on the admission fee; we'll keep you posted.

Just enough news to enjoy with your cappuccino ... 

Time for another cappuccino news break; this time let's talk about culture: cinema, music, and tourism.

An interesting award given to Stresa and Verbania, and in reality all the region of Piemonte, from the online hotel comparison website Trivago. Piemonte took first place, based on users' ratings, in online reputation of regions in Italy, that is, the quality and ease-of-use of online resources and planning. Within Piemonte, Stresa took second place prize, behind Alba, and Verbania came in fourth place, after Torino. The award was given recently in Milano, during the International Tourism Exchange. Nice to know that Stresa is so highly regarded online according to tourists.  In my opinion, a reputation well-deserved.    

       (    continued ....   )

Just enough news to enjoy with your cappuccino...

Ships, statues and stations are our news for today:

Woo Hoo! Great news for tourists in the 2013 season in Stresa! Navigazione Lago Maggiore has just published their 2013 schedule, and it shows a dramatic increase in the number of ferry trips offered. For example, beginning March 24, 2013, enjoy these changes:

--Ferries between Intra and Laveno will run every 20 minutes, instead of the current 30.

--The Carciano - Isola Bella trip will be made 25 times daily, instead of last year's 7.

-- From Stresa and Baveno boats will leave every 30 minutes for the Borromeo Islands; 22 times a day.

--The entire season is lengthened, to coincide with the longer opening schedules at the Borromeo properties and Villa Taranto.

--The popular Lago Maggiore Express will be available Thursday through Sunday during this season, and even more, every day during July and August.

--And once again, certain boats are available for hire for weddings and other private events.

These large increases come after last seasons cuts which were due to the financial crisis the company faced, but now, thankfully, the situation has stabilized. And some more good news -- no price increase! Here's the 2013 schedule.

**********

(   continued ...   )

Just enough news to enjoy with your cappuccino...

It seems that approval has been given for the construction of a new ticket office at the Carciano imbarcadero. If you have taken a ferry from the Carciano station, you know that it does not have a true ticket office, or a place to wait for the boats, but instead a small, one-person hut that is open only certain hours. The new ticket office rendering shows a traditional style building, which, according to Mayor Canio di Milia, is necessary to improve the look of this Carciano dock, which is of prime importance to Stresa and the many international tourists who visit there, either to take a boat or to ride the gondola up to the gardens or Mottarone.

**********

A.  I'm happy to inform you that now everything is perfect! Stresa has two laundromats.
1. Easy Wash, located in the center of Stresa very near to the Carrafour supermarket. Easy Wash has free WiFi, a coin machine, free detergent (loaded automatically in the machine), chairs and reading materials. There are large and small washing machines and dryers, and instructions in English and Italian.

(  continue reading ...  )

Uh-oh... you caught your jacket on a fence and ripped a hole in the seam....

Or, you've arrived at your hotel and have started unpacking. You discover you forgot a hairdryer and your room doesn't have one...

Or, you forgot your plug converters...

Or maybe the kids are getting cranky and need a new distraction for tomorrow's long car ride...

Or the batteries in your camera/watch/remote control just died. What to do?

What do you do when any of these or other little annoyances occur during your trip? You don't want to waste too much of your precious vacation time doing errands, and you don't even know where to go to do them.

(  Continued...  )

The excitement continues! Following the news that this blog has been featured in Susan Van Allen's book, 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, comes more news from Susan: We have been tweeted, and retweeted! After tweeting about Stresa Sights, Susan reported that her tweet was retweeted by Frances Mayes, author of Under the Tuscan Sun. I'm not sure that I've been tweeted about by anyone before, ever. How very exciting to have our first tweets be from such wonderful authors. I also never thought I'd have occasion to say 'tweet', and I've now said it eight times in this post. Exciting times indeed...

(  Continued...  )