Villa Pallavicino, in Stresa, rising through
the red of the roses and the blue of the lake.
Villa Pallavicino
Your next stop could be at Villa Pallavicino, in Stresa, where
a large English-style park with shadowy pathways and colorful
flowerbeds wraps around a neoclassical structure. Even young visitors
can have fun here, either at the playground or at the zoo that
has more than 40 species of mammals and exotic birds. (Tel. +39.0323.3.15.33
or _39.0323.3.24.07.)
Landscape Museum
The 17th-century palazzo Viani-Dugani in Pallanza is the site
of the Museo del Paesaggio. Located on Via Ruga, in the heart
of an old district with houses from the 18th century, the museum
is still recognized as the historical art museum of Verbano and
adjacent districts. Its collection includes many works from notable
Lombardese and Piedmontese painters from 1850-1950. It also has
an ample collection of plaster casts, including the works of the
famous sculptor Paolo Troubetzkoy (he was born in Intra and died
in Suna, 1866-1938).
Another section of the museum
is dedicated to the works of Arturo Martini and Giulio Branca.
The archeological section, which has relics from the necropolis
of Ornavasso, is still under construction. The museum is open
April 1st to 31 October 31st, 10 am-12 pm and 3 pm-6 pm.
Evening concerts, parades,
fairs, shows and other events
The tourist season in Pallanza and the surrounding areas (which
usually begins in April with the Camellia Show, with 250 varieties
on display at Villa Giulia) opens with a series of linked events,
including exhibitions, concerts, and shows. On May 27th and June
26th,[same dates every year?] in Piazza Giovanni XXIII from 8
am to 10 pm, there is a small market offering traditional foods,
wares, collectibles, and the work of local artisans. Another market,
Le Bancarelle del Venerdì Sera, is open every Friday evening
beginning at 7 pm on the Pallanza riverbank. The weekly concerts
in the historic center of Verbania Intra, Notti di Note, are not
to be missed. They take place on the first three Saturday evenings
in July, with 14 local and traveling musical groups. A highlight
of the summer season in Verbania Pallanza is the annual evening
boat race on August 14th,which ends with a pyrotechnic show; the
riverbank offers the best view. And on September 10th is the 26th
running of the Corso Fiorito, the traditional parade of flower-covered
carriages. There is a fireworks display that evening. Call for
further information (tel. +39.0323.50.32.49).
An ample choice of hotels...
The pool at Lido Palace, a deluxe hotel in Baveno.
Of course, this traditional vacation
spot offers a wide variety of lodgings. We suggest the following
hotels, all near the lake: Il Belvedere, Viale Magnolie 6, in Pallanza
(tel. +39.0323.50.32.02); 150 thousand lira for a double room. Il
Chiostro, Via Fratelli Cervi 14, in Intra (tel. +39.0323.40.40.77);
140 thousand lira for a double room. Intra, Corso Mameli 162, in
Intra (tel. +39.0323.58.13.93); 170 thousand lira for a double room.
Riviera, Via Troubetzkoy, in Suna (tel. +39.0323.50.22.02); 100
thousand lira for a double room. Le Oche di Bracchio, in the Bracchio
district, on the Mergozzo Lake (tel. +39.0323.8.01.22); 150 thousand
lira for a double room. And in Baveno, we suggest the hotel Lido
Palace, on state road Sempione 30 (tel. +39.0323.92.44.44). Double
rooms go from about 160-220 thousand lira.
...and
Restaurants
We recommend Monastero (so named to invite the curious) on the
banks of the river in Suna. Its menu includes an antipasto of
rice and seafood sformattino. As an entrée, try the tagliolini
with tofanetti and vegetables, the scampi al sale, or the larded
veal fillet. For dessert we suggest the pear tart with dark chocolate.
The average price of an entree [while the accent is correct to
use, I think we’ve been omitting it – if you want
to keep the accent, let me know and I’ll add it to the style
sheet] is 80 thousand lira (tel. +39.0323.50.25.44). Other favorites
in Pallanza include Torchio, which changes its menu every 20 days,Via
Manzoni 20 (tel. +39.0323.5.03.35), average price 70 thousand
lira. And Italia, which offers local specialties, Viale Magnolie,
(tel. +39.0323.55.73.25), average price 60 thousand lira. In Fondotoce,
try Il Piccolo Lago for lakeside dining, Via Turati 87, (tel.
+39.0323.49.60.45) average price 100 thousand lira.
Our favorite taverns include Osteria del Castello, in Verbania,
Piazza Castello (tel. +39.0323.51.65.79). In Pallanza, try L’Osteria
dell’Angolo, Piazza Garibaldi 35 (tel. +39.0323.55.63.62);
and Kumbusa, Via XXV Aprile (tel. +39.0323.51.62.97). Average
prices run from 30 to 50 thousand lira.
All natural
There are numerous parks and reserves in the Lago Maggiore district.
We recommend the following: Giardino Alpinia, in Stresa, on Mottarone
Road. At 2,300 feet above sea level, it offers a panoramic view
of all seven lakes of the region and is home to 700 plant species.
Parco del Mottarone (tel. +39.0323.55.66.67), on Barromea Road,
also presents an extraordinary vista. There is a reserve on Arona,
Lagoni di Mercurago that contains natural pools and heaths on
1,000 acres of land. Inland, in Intra, there is the Parco Nazionale
della Val Grande, one of the few spots of uncontaminated nature
(tel. +39.0321.28.22.48).
For more information:
Contact the tourist office in Verbania, Corso Zanitello 6 (tel.
+39.0323.50.32.49). There is also a commercial tourism office
covering Lago Maggiore and Lago Mergozzo in Stresa, Piazza Cordona
22 (tel. +39.0323.3.04.16).
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