Things to do and see in Piedmont , Italy
Visit Lake Maggiore & the Italian Lakes
We are only 1 hours drive from Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta, two of the most beutiful of the Italian Lakes. Several of the other lakes can be accessed as part of a driving trip in this direction (Lake Como for example). Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta are both in Piedmont, Lake Como is in Lombardy.
Driving north from Vecchio Podere Santa Cristiana it is possible to be promenading in the famous resort of Stresa within about an hour. Stresa was made famous when the Venice Sempon express (the Orient Express) chose the town as a stopping place on the grand tour. Stresa retains its "Bele Epoc" era charm with many period buidings and scenes.
One of the larger lakes it is possible to take short or long boat tours, the Northern shores are in Switzerland, so don't forget your passport. The Borromeo islands, close to the shore near Stresa are worthy of a visit. Island Bella is a former fishermans village with small streets and simple resteraunts. Visiting Mansion Borromeo you can inspect over 20 period rooms with stuccoes, statues, paintings and Tapestries not to mention the murano glass chandeliers. The mansion gardens are world famous and featured on many a guide book to this region. From the upper terraces there are great views over the lake & the gulf borromeo.
There are botanical gardens on the hillside above the lake at Villa Taranto. About 20 hectares and over 20,000 species make this of huge importance .
It is possible to take a cable car from Stresa to a high alpine park above the lake, offering views of the high alps and lakes.
See more pictures of Italian Lakes
