Stresa enjoys a beautiful panoramic position on the Borromeo Gulf and the islands. This elegant little town looks like a luxurious lady of the “Belle Epoque”.
Its apotheosis starts from 1805, the year of construction of the Sempione state road. In this historical period, the old fishing town, was totally transformed; the elegant promenade rich of blooming plants and the most luxurious and renowned hotels of the lake and of Italy were built.
Together with the tourist guide, walking or pleasantly by boat, you will admire the magnificent and baroque GRAND HOTEL DES ILES BORROMEES, the undisputed jewel of Stresa; the magnificent HOTEL REGINA PALACE, built in pure Liberty style and the other renowned hotels which, all together, make Stresa, a true chic town, where also the first MISS ITALIA, was crowned in 1946, .
Stresa has hosted world famous people such as: Queen Margherita, King Umberto I° of Savoy and crowned heads from all over the world; poets and writers like Hemingway, Stendhal, Hermann Hesse, Lord Byron, and many others, also wrote about its beauties.
During the guided tour we will also enjoy the park of “Villa Ducale Bolongaro”. Here the duchess of Genoa lived in the summer period, and here died Antonio Rosmini, great Italian philosopher, theologian, extraordinary reformer and good friend of the famous poet Alessandro Manzoni.
After the guided tour, we’ll reach the main square of Stresa, where you can enjoy an ice cream or have a look of the boutiques of this charming small town.
The admission to the park of Villa Ducale is free.