Lake Maggiore (Stresa), Isola Bella and Verona, Italy

(Above)Fishermans Island-Lake Maggiore

Sept. 23-24, 2008

Days 7 and 8

Day 6- Lake Maggiore, Stresa

We left Lake Lugano at around 5:30 PM and enjoyed a relaxing 2 hour drive to Lake Maggiore. The lake was huge and so beautiful. Just breathtaking scenery the whole way. When we arrive at the Hotel Bristol, we where thrilled. The hotel is gorgeous and across the street from the lake. Our room was fantastic too, large and comfortable with a balcony overlooking the lake. Truly a 5 star hotel. We were very pleased. The whole town of Stresa was beautiful!

After receiving our room key we dropped off our things and went back out doors to explore this wonderful area and the hotel. (I could live here :) Dinner tonight was back at the hotel which was wonderful! Bed early tonight for we had a big day planned for tomorrow.

Day 7- Lake Maggiore

On our way to Isola Bella, which was an optional tour with a cost of EUR €37 per person. HIGHLY recommend this tour. This was the most beautiful Island I have ever seen. Isola Bella- Beautiful Island. Rising out of the waters of Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy, a gardener’s paradise awaits. When Count Carlo Borromeo decided to give his wife, Isabella, a gift back in 1632, he was thinking big. The expansive island villa and garden he planned for her are considered the epitome of Baroque-style architecture and garden design.  

Today the weather did not cooperate. It was pouring rain and cold with zero visibility, but we boarded the small boat to take us to the island which was only a 15 minute ride. We first met our tour guide who took us inside the palace and we were only able to view 12 rooms on the bottom floor (which were all magnificent) the other 186 rooms were occupied by the Prince and Princess of this Lake Region. The Palace was truly gorgeous, I especially loved the grotto (wine cellar), very unusual made from marble, lava rocks, stones and stucco which made very ornate walls and ceilings- very cool!

On to the gardens but it was still raining , so with umbrellas in hand off we went. All I can say is WOW! They were incredible. So beautiful. I have never seen more beautiful gardens in such a gorgeous setting on the lake. It looked this incredible in the rain, I can only imagine how perfect it would look on a sunny day. We had a few hours here so that was nice, it was terrific to just stroll around and enjoy the views. What a place.....

By the time we got back to our hotel the rain had stopped and the sun was coming out so we took a walk to the main town in Stresa and had lunch with some friends on the tour from Connecticut and did some shopping. Like I mentioned earlier Stresa was a lovely town, small but really nice. If it didn't get so cold here I would move to this area.

Day 8- Verona

After breakfast in beautiful Lake Maggiore (which no one wanted to leave) we headed east to Verona, medieval setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, to see Juliet’s Balcony and the well-preserved Arena. It was less than a 2 hour drive and our first place to visit was Juliet's balcony. It was so funny, tons of people come here to view this balcony and take pictures. As you are walking down the street, all of a sudden you see a crowd of people heading down this small alley way and on both sides of the wall it is covered with love note from people all over the world (See photos) it was so cute and romantic. We had a few hours to spend here so we explored the rest of this adorable little town, stopped for pizza and wine and back on the bus towards SPECTACULAR VENICE!