Page 141 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Milan & The Lakes

LAKE M A GGIORE  139

4 Stresa
Verbania. * 5,200. n IAT, Piazza
Marconi 16 (0323-301 50 or 0323-31
308). ∑ stresaturismo.it
The origins of medieval Strixia,
dating from before 1000, are
partially hidden by the palazzi
and villas built for the aristo-
cracy in the late 19th–early
20th century, partly because
of the opening of an electric
rack-railway (the first in Italy),
which goes to the top of
Mount Mottarone. The town is
now a centre for conferences
and tour groups, attracted
by the easy access to the Borromeo Palace garden on Isola Bella, overlooking Lake Maggiore
Borro mean islands. On the
lakefront are 19th-century 5 Isole Borromee stayed in 1797), a ballroom,
villas, Sant’Ambrogio (18th Verbania. 4 from Arona, Laveno, throne room and bedroom with
century) and the Villa Ducale Stresa, Baveno, Pallanza. To Isola 17th-century decoration and
(1770), with mementos of Madre and Isola Bella: tel. 0322-23 furnishings and paintings by
19th-century philosopher 32 00 or 800 55 18 01. Open late Carracci, Cerano and Tiepolo.
Antonio Rosmini, who died Mar–mid-Oct: 9am–5:30pm daily. The six grottoes are decorated
here (the villa is now the Closed Nov–Mar. & 8 by appt. 0 with shells and pebbles.
Rosmini Study Centre). Mount ∑ borromeoturismo.it Isola Madre, the largest
Mottarone (1,491 m, 4,890 ft), island, boasts an 18th-century
a ski resort, has a view from These three islands, which can villa with a garden where white
the Alps to the plain. be reached easily from Stresa, peacocks roam freely; it has
became famous thanks to the rare plants as well as azaleas,
P Villa Ducale Centro di Borromeo family, who built rhododendrons and camellias.
Studi Rosminiani elegant palazzi and magnificent The villa has period furnishings
Corso Umberto I 15. Tel 0323- gardens there. The loveliest and a collection of 18th- and
300 91. Open 9–11:45am, is Isola Bella, an old fishing 19th-century puppet theatres.
3–5:45pm Mon–Fri. village transformed Tiny Isola dei Pescatori, once
} Parco di Villa from 1632 to the leading fishing village, has
Pallavicino 1671 by the retained its quaint atmosphere
State road 33. Borromeo and architecture.
Tel 0323-324 07. family into a
Open mid-Mar–Oct: lovely complex
9am– 5pm Mon–Fri. & A fountain consisting of a 6 Baveno
7 = 0 ∑ parcozoo at Villa Pallavicino Baroque palazzo and
pallavicino.it a terraced Italian- Verbania. * 5,000. n IAT, Piazza
This villa near Stresa is famous style garden with rare plants. della Chiesa 8 (0323-92 46 32).
for its gardens. The luxuriant Inside are a music room (where Made famous by its pink granite
English garden has centuries-old Mussolini met British and quarries, which among other
plants as well as exotic creatures French officials in 1935), the Sala things supplied the stone for
such as llamas and pelicans. di Napoleone (where Napoleon the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
in Milan (see p52), Baveno
became a fashionable resort
in the mid-19th century, enter-
taining guests such as Queen
Victoria, who stayed in the
Villa Clara (now Villa Branca) in
1879. A major attraction is Santi
Gervasio e Protasio, with its 12th-
century facade and 15th-century
octagonal baptistery with
Renaissance frescoes. Going
towards Verbania, take the
turn-off for San Giovanni at
Montorfano, one of the loveliest
The garden at Villa Pallavicino, the home of many species of animals churches in the area.

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