The resort town of Stresa elegantly sits along the shores of Lake Maggiore. Travellers come to this buoyant destination in Italy for its stately architecture and enchanting setting of lakeside vistas during sunset.
The three Borromean islands are a stone’s throw from this idyllic town. On your trip to Stresa, you can spend the day island-hopping with visits to Isola Bella and Isola Madre, exploring their Italian-style baroque gardens and grand palaces. At Isola dei Pescatori, you can wander around the quaint fishing village and winding alleyways.
Surrounded with flower-laden lawns and a scenic waterfront view, Villa Pallavicino is a neoclassical residence and zoological garden that you can explore on your Stresa holiday. You can also indulge in some wine tasting with tours to wineries in the Piedmont region.
The opening of the Simplon Pass and Simplon Tunnel in the 19th and 20th century was instrumental in turning this former fishing hamlet into a sought-after holiday destination. The pass connects the town of Brig in Switzerland to the Piedmont region. You can reach Stresa in about two hours from Milan by car, bus and train. Milan Malpensa is the closest airport. Regular ferries are available to get to the scenic Borromean islands.