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Lake Maggiore, Stresa and the Islands |
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Beautifully positioned on the Lake Maggiore overlooking the Borromeo islands, Stresa is
the lake's most beautiful town, bursting with flowers and sprinkled with fine old villas.
The city, known as "the Pearl of Verbano" is one and a half hours away from Lake Como on
the way that takes you from Milan to Switzerland by the Simplon Pass.
Two of Stresa's lakeside villas are open to the public: Villa Pallavicino (1850) and its
colourful gardens and the Villa Ducale (1771) once the property of Catholic philosopher
Antonio Rosmini.
Lake Maggiore became a private fief of the Borromei in 1470 that built palaces and
gardens on the Islands. The closest to Stresa is Isola Bella once a scattering of
barren rocks until the 17th century when Count Carlo III Borromeo decided to make
it a garden in a form of a ship for his wife Isabella (hence the name Isola Bella).
The Borromei completed the Palace according to the original plans and left in it a
collection of art masterpieces. Napoleone Bonaparte slept in one of the Palace room in 1917.
The Borromei opened the delightful and larger Isola Madre to the public in 1978. On it a 17th
century Villa has a collection of 18th and 19th century puppet theatres, marionettes and
portraits. The third island, Isola dei Pescatori, is home to an almost too quaint and
picturesque fishing village.
Restaurant reservations available upon request.
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