 STRESA
Informazioni Turistiche
Tel. 0323.30.150 - 0323.30.416
Fax 0323.32.561
To the tourist,
who for the first time arrives in Stresa, is offered a breathless sight.  At the beginning a
superb window of the lake front, delineated with lines of palm trees, with flourishing
gardens and facades of majestic hotels. Then, turning to look at the lake, enchanted,
as if emerged from the same waters the spectacular Borromean Islands (Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori).
It is enough the splendour of these visions to make one understand how  Stresa
has been able to become one of the maximum meetings of international tourism.
The town, already at the middle half of the 19th century was the most elegant place to
stay, the most visited by the international upper middle class.
Others again are the reasons of so much fame and prestige. Here art and nature are mixed
together in a  way that one
respects the other, here the hospitality is to boast to generation
and the cultural initiative, that happens in the course of the year, they are the necessary corollary
of it. Symbol of the vitality of Stresa is the animated Plaza of the wharf, the vast and tree lined
Piazza Marconi. Here the neo-classic  parish of
Sant'Ambrogio faces the square. To the right of the
church there is the famous Villa Ducale  of the year 1770, also this is in neo-classic style. The notoriety
derives from it having been the residence of the philosopher Antonio Rosmini, whom here also entertained
Alessandro Manzoni. Now the villa is an active Centre of "Studi Rosminiani". Nearby, famous to the
international congressmen, one can find the modern and well equipped Palace of Congresses.
Another destination of notable tourist flow is Villa Pallavicino  of the 19th century. The interest for which is
completely naturalistic, in that the large blooming park is rich in secular trees and has been transformed in an
original zoological garden,  where various species of animals live, including exotic animals like ostriches and
kangaroos. In the outskirts of Stresa, at Gignese, that offers the panoramic view of the central basin of Lago Maggiore,
one can visit the Alpinia Garden, rich in mountains and officinal plants, and the curious Umbrella Museum, that collects
parasols and umbrellas of every epoch. Finally, it serves to remember that to the modern funicular connects Stresa
to the ski slopes of Mottarone, another balcony on the Verbano.
Between the recurrent manifestations,  signalled to a prestigious level is: the Competition of music for young
people "Premio Franco Verganti", in April; the Cattedra Rosmini, at the end of August; the Musical Weeks
International Festival, in August and September; the European Philatelist Show, in the first ten days of September.
© Edizioni Marwan
Fotografie: Mario Parietti
Redazione: Roberto Stangalini |
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