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Stresa


Pearl of Lake Maggiore near the Gulf where the scenic Borromean Islands are located, Stresa attracts thousands of tourists every year. The lakeside promenade, ideal for relaxing walks, is flanked by historic houses and luxury Art Nouveau hotels surrounded by greenery. Among the numerous events that color the sparkling cultural and musical life of the city we mention Stresa Festival, the "Musical Weeks of Stresa and Lake Maggiore", whose official name has recently been changed.
  • Village on a lake
Stresa  | elitravo/shutterstock
Stresa
elitravo/shutterstock
Stresa  | Peter Moulton/shutterstock
Stresa
Peter Moulton/shutterstock
Stresa  | pesc- elesi/shutterstock
Stresa
pesc- elesi/shutterstock
Stresa  | trabantos/shutterstock
Stresa
trabantos/shutterstock
Stresa  | Zick Svift/shutterstock
Stresa
Zick Svift/shutterstock
Stresa  | Lamax/shutterstock
Stresa
Lamax/shutterstock
Margheritine  | Manokhina Natalia/shutterstock
Margheritine
Manokhina Natalia/shutterstock
Isola dei Pescatori  | elesi/shutterstock
Isola dei Pescatori
elesi/shutterstock
Stresa  | elesi/shutterstock
Stresa
elesi/shutterstock
Stresa  | Elena19/shutterstock
Stresa
Elena19/shutterstock
Stresa  | Annavee/shutterstock
Stresa
Annavee/shutterstock
Stresa  | Anna Hristova/shutterstock
Stresa
Anna Hristova/shutterstock
Stresa  | Andrew Mayovskyy/shutterstock
Stresa
Andrew Mayovskyy/shutterstock
Isola Bella  | LaMiaFotografia/shutterstock
Isola Bella
LaMiaFotografia/shutterstock
Stresa  | Luca Lorenzelli/shutterstock
Stresa
Luca Lorenzelli/shutterstock
Stresa  | The_Photo_Captain/shutterstock
Stresa
The_Photo_Captain/shutterstock
Stresa  | Zick Svift/shutterstock
Stresa
Zick Svift/shutterstock
Stresa  | Anton_Ivanov/shutterstock
Stresa
Anton_Ivanov/shutterstock
A look at Stresa
A look at Stresa

About the village

Stresa is one of the most popular tourist destination and its area is divided into four parts: coastal, insular, hilly and mountainous. The coastal part overlooks Lake Maggiore and includes the historic center and the hamlet of Carciano; the island area includes three of the four scenic Borromean Islands (Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori); the hilly part includes a series of fractions dominating the Lake Maggiore (Levo, Binda, Campino, Passera, Someraro, Vedasco, Brisino and Magognino); the mountainous part includes the popular ski resort of Mottarone.

Initially called Strixsya (small strip of land), the first reference to Stresa appeared on a parchment dated 998. In the fifteenth century the small village was inhabited mainly by fishermen. It first became a feud of the Visconti family, it was later acquired by the Borromeo family. Since the nineteenth century the town was chosen as a stopover by many intellectuals including Lord Byron, Stendhal and Charles Dickens.

Because of its cultural attractions, its enchanting lakeside promenade and its marvelous view, Stresa is also known for its cultural offer. Among the many events that make the town alive we remember the Stresa and Lake Maggiore Music Weeks, part of the European Festival Association, whose official name has recently been changed.

Much of the charm of the lake village is given by the incredible landscape variety of its area. The historic center is characterized by a succession of magnificent mansions, noble villas, exclusive hotels and well-kept gardens lapped by the waters of Lake Maggiore. One of the most beautiful villas in the area is certainly the luxurious Villa Pallavicino, dating back to the 19th century, which is one of the main attractions of the village. It is also possible to visit the Parish Church of Sant 'Ambrogio, in neoclassical style, inside which there are some seventeenth-century paintings. On its right there is the famous Villa Ducale, dating back to the end of the eighteenth century and not far from the Palazzo dei Congressi.

In Stresa you have to taste the Margheritine, the typical sweets of the village designed in 1857 by the pastry chef Piero Antonio Bolongaro in honor of the then Princess Margherita of Savoy, future first queen of Italy, who lived in the Villa Ducale, to celebrate his First Communion. You also have to taste the Toma del Mottarone, a typical cheese made with the milk of the cows that graze at Mottarone, or the mountain of Stresa.

Municipality of Stresa
Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola
Piemonte region
Inhabitants: 4.913 stresiani
Center altitude200 m s.l.m.
the Municipality is part of:
Comuni fioriti
Municipality
Piazza Matteotti 6 - tel: 0323939111
= distances as the crow flies

BY CAR

  • From Milan: take the A8 motorway towards Varese, the A26 motorway towards Gravellona Toce, with the Baveno / Arona exit.
  • From Piacenza: take the A1 highway towards Milan; Highway A8 direction Varese; Highway A26 direction Gravellona Toce, with exit at Baveno / Arona,
  • Or, alternatively: A21 motorway towards Alessandria, A26 motorway towards Gravellona Toce, with exit for Baveno / Arona.
  • From Turin: take the A4 motorway towards Milan, A26 motorway towards Gravellona Toce, with the Baveno / Arona exit.
  • From Genoa: take the A7 motorway towards Alessandria, the A26 motorway towards Gravellona Toce, with the Baveno / Arona exit.
  • From Aosta: take the A5 motorway towards Turin; in Ivrea link road to the A4 motorway towards Milan, Austrada A26 towards Gravellona Toce, with exit at Baveno / Arona.

ON THE TRAIN

  • Stresa railway station

BY PLANE

  • Milan Malpensa Airport
  • Milan Linate Airport
  • Bergamo airport
  • Aosta Airport, Municipality of Saint-Christophe
  • Turin airport

Sleep, eat, buy...

= distances as the crow flies
Management Body of the Ossola Protected Areas
Two beautiful parks that both in summer and winter offer the possibility of visiting and tourism ...
Vial Pieri, 13, Varzo (Verbano-Cusio-Ossola)
42.40 Kilometers from Stresa
= distances as the crow flies

Stresa is present in issue 7 of our digital magazine e-borghi travel.
Read it now!

Events

from
saturday
18
november, 2023
to tuesday 26 december 2023

Christmas in Stresa and on Lake Maggiore

thursday
7
december, 2023

Sant'Ambrogio - Patron Saint

Our news about Stresa

Our collaborations

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