Stresa is a beautiful, elegant town on Lake Maggiore. It lies at the foot of the Italian Alps. The airport at Malpensa is only 45 km away and Milan itself is about 80 km. There is a railway station in Stresa and bus service to other lakeside towns such as Arona and Verbania.
Stresa offers the ideal location for a relaxing or for a more active holiday.
The apartment is located in the hills just above Stresa and is just a short taxi ride from the station or a 10-minute walk into town centre via pedestrian steps and paths through the park. It is 1 km from the centre of Stresa.
From Lake Maggiore you can take a boat trip to the Borromean Islands (Isola Bella with its magnificent castle, Isola, Madre and Isola dei Pescatori with its fish restaurants). You can even take a boat to Switzerland. Also by the lake, there is a small beach and a playground for children.
There are many sporting activities on Lake Maggiore (swimming, boating, sailing, water skiing, scuba diving, windsurfing) and also on the slopes of the Mottarone mountain. In summer you can go hiking, mountain biking (guided tours can be arranged), paragliding, hang-gliding, horse-riding and in winter skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing. There is cable car, which takes you to the summit of Mount Mottarone. From the summit you have a spectacular panorama of Lake Maggiore and the 6 other Alpine lakes and also of the Alps and of Monte Rosa and the Val Grande National Park.
There are many Golf Clubs including the Golf Club of the Borromean Islands and Golf Alpino (one of the oldest in Italy).
Day excursions are possible to Macugnaga, to the waterfalls in the valley of Val Toce Formazza or to the Simplon Pass or to the tiny exquisite Lake Orta.
There are many beautiful 19th century villas and gardens to visit such as Villa Taranto, Villa Pallavicino and the Alpinia Gardens. Stresa is also famous for its grand 'Belle Epoque' hotels that grace the shores of the lake.
For walkers, there are numerous lovely walks in the surrounding area and the Val Grande National Park is a hikers' paradise. Riding and tennis are also available.
For those of you in need of some serious shopping and culture and city-life, Milan is only a short 45 minutes away on the Express train from Stresa station.
I have other holiday rentals in Stresa and on Lake Maggiore, on Lake Orta, Lake Como and Lake Garda - please contact me for details.
Website: www.italianlakesrentals.eu
