Cloudy Sky in Stresa, Italy
It was not really a long drive but only a less-than 10-minute ride from where we had overnights in our hotel in Baveno. Stresa is just less than 5 kilometers away from Baveno. Both these towns are located on the shores of the Lago (Lake) Maggiore in the region of Piedmont, northern Italy.
Stresa on the shore of Lake Maggiore where I had a walk during our sightseeing last March 2013. It was cloudy indeed that day..typical winter weather!
The cloudy sky, and in fact it was raining when we had our sightseeing in Stresa, did not stopped us from going around in the town. After our tour guide showed us the town and some of its sights, we were given some time to go and explore it on our own. I did not forgot to go to some of the shops in this town and to buy some souvenirs.
A monument of a man and a horse. The golden plate in front says, “ALLA MEMORIA DEGLI ALPINI CADUTI. Il Gruppo di Stresa 14.9.1997.
I was enchanted by one of the shops there who is selling scarfs. That was quite a little fortune for me buying 3 beautiful scarfs.At least, I am using it especially during cold seasons like winter, autumn and fall. I also bought a travel guide book about Lago Maggiore, postcards and a necklace made from Murano glass.
The The Grand Hotel in Stresa. © www.countrysidetrip.com
Stresa is a tourist destination due to its location on the shore of Lake Maggiore. Since the early 20th century, the main source of income has been the tourist trade. Like other locations on Lago Maggiore, it benefits from spectacular views as well as areas of historical and architectural interest.
The name of this town first appeared in documents in AD 998.
In the 15th century it grew into a fishing community and owed feudal allegiance to the Visconti family. It subsequently came under the control of the Borromeo family.
For centuries Stresa has been a popular retreat for Europe’s aristocrats, who have endowed the town with a number of villas. Tourism increased substantially after tunneling of the Simplon Pass allowed train services from north of the Alps to pass through Stresa in 1906.
The main sights to see are the Villa Ducale, Villa Dell’Orto, The church of S. Ambrogio and the Villa Pallavicino.
It was only a short visit I had in Stresa but I am glad that I was there.
