Stresa Essentials

The Borromean Islands, a lakeside park and the mountain above town: the sights most visitors to Stresa come for.

A

Isola Bella Gardens

Ten terraces of baroque garden rise from the lake, topped by statues and roamed by white peacocks.

B

The Borromeo family's 17th-century summer palace on Isola Bella, with state rooms, tapestries and pebble-decorated grottoes at lake level.

C

The only Borromean island where people live all year: narrow lanes, tall fishermen's houses and lakeside restaurants.

D

A 19th-century villa in a large landscape park on the edge of Stresa, with old trees, lake views and animals.

E

The 1,491 m mountain between Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta, with wide views of the lakes and the Alps. Reached by road; the cable car is closed.

F

A small alpine botanical garden at Alpino, with mountain plants and a terrace looking down on the islands.