During your vacation at Elvezia Boutique Hotel, located on the Isola Bella, in the province of Verbano Cusio Ossola, on Lake Maggiore, in Piedmont, you will discover the beautiful surrounding villages and appreciate the history of this beautiful region.
STRESA
The town of Stresa overlooks Lake Maggiore and its promenade offers a beautiful view of the whole area. The old town at the foot of the mountains is rich of alleys and streets, enriched by 19th century palaces and villas.
One of the most beautiful buildings in the town is Villa Pallavicino, surrounded by the wide Zoo Park, full of different animal species and characterized by landscaped colorful gardens. Another fantastic garden is Alpinia, located on a balcony directly on the shore of the lake, offering breathtaking views of the Borromeo Gulf.
From Stresa you can reached by boat the Borromean Islands: Isola dei Pescatori, Isola Madre and Isola Bella. The latter hosts the Borromeo Palace and its incredible gardens decorated with statues and artworks in Baroque style.
Villa Pallavicino
VERBANIA
The city of Verbania, born from the union of the municipalities of Intra and Pallanza, rises on a promontory on Lake Maggiore. In Verbania you can visit the Landscape Museum, founded in 1909, which engages in educational activities with the purpose of developing sensitivity to art in all its forms. The museum is located in three magnificent palaces of the city: Palazzo Viani Dugnani, Palazzo Biumi Innocenti and Casa Ceretti.
During a holiday on Lake Maggiore you can not miss to visit three of the most significant buildings:
The Santa Caterina del Sasso Hermitage, is built on the rocky cliff overlooking the lake. You can reach it by boat than climbing 80 steps, or from the overhanging square than descending 268 steps or using the elevator excavated in the rock. This monastery, once inaccessible to visitors, hides precious treasures, frescoes, paintings and statues.
Rocca d’Angera, or Rocca Borromea, was built from the Middle Ages with the first buildin Torre Castellana, later has been expanded by the owners who from time to time took possession of it. During the years they built the Ala Scaligera, the Ala Viscontea, the Torre Visconti, Ala dei Borromeo. All together the buildings form a homogeneous complex that today houses the Doll and Toy Museum in its halls.
The statue of San Carlone, or Colosso di San Carlo Borromeo, in Arona, is a copper statue built at the end of the 17th century. The statue is dedicated to the archbishop of Milan, born in Arona, who was proclaimed holy for charitable works for the benefit of the inhabitants. Along with its granite pedestal, the statue measures 35 meters and can be visited inside.
Rocca d’Angera
LAGO D’ORTA
The town of Orta San Giulio, in the province of Novara, rises on the eastern shore of the lake. In the historical center, formed by alleyways that are the same of the ancient medieval structure, we can visit the Basilica of San Giulio. From Piazza Motta you can take the boat to the island of San Giulio, where the Mater Ecclesiae Abbey is located.
As we move from the shore of the lake to the mountains, we can take the path leading to the Sacred Mount of Orta. It is part of the nine Sacred Alpine Mountains, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, dedicated to Saint Francis and was built around the mid-seventeenth century in Baroque style.
Sacred Mount of Orta
