Stresa and Lakes and Gardens of Italy

We journey aboard Eurostar from London St Pancras International and travel onward by train to Stresa, where we have a short coach journey to our hotel - the 4-star Hotel Astoria, on the shores of Lake Maggiore.  

Please note due to the late arrival on day one lunch and dinner will be provided on day two.

Today is free for you to explore Stresa, which occupies a fantastic spot on the shores of Lake Maggiore.
The town dates to the 1st century and is full of life. It has a wonderful promenade, where you can see the famous Borromean Islands of Isola Bella, Isola Madre, and Isola Superiore dei Pescatori. There’s an array of medieval buildings, palaces, beautiful gardens, and museums, as well as an abundance of bars and restaurants. Once you have explored the town in the morning, we include a three-course lunch with a glass of prosecco back at the hotel today. 

The Borromean Islands are a group of three small islands and two islets, located in the western arm of Lake Maggiore between Verbania (to the north) and Stresa (to the south). Today, enjoy a half day trip by boat across the Lake to picturesque Isola Bella where we visit the Borromean Palace. The island is dominated by the Baroque Palace and wonderful gardens to which entrance is included. Wander around the furnished rooms and opulent salons full of fantastic artwork. The garden is full of flowers and rare exotic plants which thrive in the mild climate of the Borromean Gulf. There are also ponds, fountains and a statue dating back to the 17th Century.  

Today, we include a half day excursion by coach to Lake Orta, a star in this constellation of subalpine lakes.  Situated entirely in Piedmont, it’s only 8 miles long and less than 2 miles wide. It is a tranquil location with an enchanting atmosphere. On the lake itself is the village of Orta San Giulio where you can spend time wandering around the quaint streets. 

Today, we include a full day excursion to the beautiful Villa Taranto Gardens and pretty lakeside resort of Cannero Riviera.  
Our first stop is Villa Taranto which was founded in the 1930s by Scottish Captain McEacharn who bought the villa in 1931 with the specific intention of creating the garden of his dreams on the shores of his beloved Lake Maggiore. He named the property after a family ancestor who had been made “Duke of Taranto” by Napoleon. In 1939 Captain McEacharn, who had no direct heirs, decided to gift the whole property to the Italian state, in exchange for permission to be buried in the mausoleum which now stands in the middle of the park.  Villa Taranto is one of the most important botanic gardens in the world, with thousands of species of trees and flowers, planted over an area of around 16 hectares. It has a wealth of colour and scents with eucalyptus, azaleas, rhododendrons, magnolias, port wine magnolias, maples, camellias, and dozens of tropical plants. We enjoy entrance and a guided tour and plenty of time to explore.
Afterwards, we continue to the pleasant lakeside resort of Cannero Riviera for some free time.  The town has a climate that is more Mediterranean than sub-alpine, and its temperate summers and mild winters are ideal for producing luxuri-ant vegetation: limes, lemons, olives, oranges, palms, azaleas, rhododendrons, and world-famous camellias flourish here. From the beautifully laid out lakefront promenade the view is enchanting over the lake, the islands of the Castles of Cannero, and the town of Luino on the nearby Lombard shore.

Today is free for you to relax and perhaps do some last-minute shopping or sight-seeing. As you walk around Stresa’s three main piazzas and down the cobbled, traffic-free streets around the town, you’ll find many stylish shops and inde-pendent cafés. Alternatively, why not relax at the hotel.