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Until the year 1906, Stresa was just a little village on the western shore of Lake Maggiore. Then the Simplon Tunnel connected it to central Europe, and what for years had been a secret jealously guarded by European aristos on the Grand Tour became accessible to all. Not quite all of course - Stresa maintained and maintains a genteel grandeur. Ernest Hemingway loved the place, and put the Grand hotel des Iles Borromees in his 'A Farewell to Arms'. Luxury villas abound, a reminder of its fin de siecle glory, and the little streets of the old town are very pretty. You'll be tripping over restaurants, cafes, gelaterias, bars and gift shops and - probably - tourists. Stresa does get very busy these days. Main sights in the town include the Villa Ducale, commissioned in 1770by Giacomo Filippo Bolongaro, and now home to a centre for the study of the work of Italian philosopher Rosmini-Serbati. See too the Villa Dell'Orto and the Villa Pallavicino. But the main event is, of course, Lake Maggiore (and neighbouring lakes including Lago d'Orta). Ferries run out from the two docks in the town with a favourite destination being the Borromean Islands. Another pleasant excursion is the cable car ride, through the town gardens, to the top of Monte Mottarone, a most enjoyable 20-minute haul. You can also hike up these hills, and the little villages that pepper the slopes are a charming contrast to the bustle of the town. You'll enjoy superb views of the mountains that surround the lakes.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, to get you in the mood
- see also our full listings of Stresa hotels.
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