cathyliles2938

Please help with advice about experiences, activities and restaurants in the Lago d’Orta and Lago Maggiore area. Thank you

neckervd

The area is too big for a short answer.
In March, Locarno has the mildest climate and offers more possibilities than Italian places where most things begin to open at Palm Sunday only.

cathyliles2938

Thank you for your response. I am not having any luck with this forum but am sure it is because I am not asking the right questions or giving enough information. I will try again.

My husband and I will be staying in an Airbnb right outside Stresa for March, April and May 2024. Date and place are set. We will have a car. We will have family and friends ( a wide range of ages from 8 thru 75) coming at different dates in that time span. I can only do the Borromean
Islands so many times. What other sites, activities, experiences for day trips or even two or three days would someone please share with me.

Adelaidean

Cathy, I’ll chime in as heading to Stresa in May, which is a little pre season in terms of ferries frequency and local bus timetables, but you will have a car, so have more flexibility.
I have several day trips in mind, that would be easier for you, the Cannero/ Cannobio riviera and Santa Anna gorge and Carmine Inferiore/ Superiore medieval villages, Lake Orta, driving up into the valleys north (I’m considering the bus to Macugnaga but the gondolas won’t be operating yet), visit the villages of the Centovalli and the hub of Domodossolla has a medieval centre and several fine dining restaurants, ferry to the Hermitage of Saint Catherine (Eremo di Santa Caterina del Sasso), I believe there are lovely chestnut forests behind Stresa and can walk to hamlets nearby, the nearby towns look sweet Arona, Baveno, Rocca de Angera looks interesting, Milan…
it looks a wonderful area and I hope you have a great time. How fabulous to base somewhere for 3 months.

neckervd

OK
Boats (ferries) iin March:
Stresa - Pallanza, Intra - Laveno, Arona - Angera, Cannero - Luino - Cannobio, Locarno - Tenero
Boats from April 2nd onwards:
Arona - Angera - Stresa - Pallanza - Intra - Cannero - Luino - Cannobio - Brissago - Ascona - Locarno
Ponte Tresa - Porto Ceresio - Morcote - Campione d'Italia - Lugano - Gandria - Porlezza (Bus Luino - Ponte Tresa, direct and via Ghirla)
Sanctuaries with old frescoes:
Varallo (Sacro Monte), Boleto (Madonna del Sasso), Leggiuno (Santa Caterina del Sasso), Locarno Orselina (Madonna del Sasso), Re (Madonna del Sangue), Varese (Sacromente)
Castles:
Bellinzona***, Angera, Locarno, Somma Lombardo (San Vito), Milan (Sforcesco), Vogogna d'Ossola
Mountain villages:
Villaggi Walser (built by Swiss people in the 16th century):
Alagna Valsesia/Im land im Sesertal, Rimella/Rimälju, Macugnaga Borca, Staffa e Pecetto/Z'Maggenen Burgen, Stafel und Zer Tanna, Ponte Formazza/Zum Steg, Fondovalle/Stafelwald, Canza/Fruttwald, Bosco/Gurin
others:
Rima, Carcoforo, Antronapiana, Bognanco (thermal spa), Spruga, Cimalmotto
villages above the lake with scenic views over the Lake (and often to the Alps):
Colazza, Nebbiuno-Fosseno, Boleto (Lake Orta), Quarna Sopra (Lake Orta), Cavandone, Arizzano, Vignone, Premeno, Trarego, Vigggiona, Sant Agata, Cinzago, Piodina, Incella, Brenscino, Ronco sopra Ascona, Orselina, Brione, Fosano, Piazzogna, Vairano, Ronco Gerra, Sant Abbondio, Scaiano, Bassano, Musignano, Sarangio, Campagnano, Agra, Vignone, Brezzo di Bedero, Sarigo,
Viewpoints with views to the Alps (Gran Paradiso - Mont Blanc - Matternorn - Piz Bernina - Ortles - Adamello and to some of the Lakes):
Mottaroine (road from Stresa), Piancompra (road from Intra), Simplon Pass (road from Domodossola) Piana Vigezzo (gondoal from Prestinone/Sta Maria Maggiore), Cardada (gondola from Locarno), Monte Lema (gondola from Miglieglia), Monte Generoso (cog wheel railway from Capolago),San Salvatore (rope railway from Lugano), Monte Bre (rope railway from Lugano), Sighignola (road from Maroggia), Monte Campo dei Fiori (road from Varese)

Adelaidean

Cathy, you mentioned visiting Switzerland in your other post. I wondered if you might be interested to bus to Brig over the Simplon Pass?
Train return is quick.
Or spend a few days in Brig and do some day trips Aletsch Glacier, Sion, Kandersteg, …Brig is actually a good hub if you want to branch off in different directions or you might prefer a few days in a quiet Swiss village to contrast with your lake stay.

neckervd

Brig is an excellent hub for trips into the high Alps indeed (and buses, lifts and trains from Brig to all mountain peaks will run in March).
You may reach Brig by direct train Stresa dp 9.20 - Brig ar 10.14 / Brig dp 20.44 - Stresa ar 21.39
or
you may drive to Varzo (35 miles, all higway) and reach Brig from there by train.through the 13 miles long Simplon Tunnel. Trains leave Varzo at 7.08, 8.08, 10.08.....
Departures from Brig to Varzo at .......17.22, 18.22, 19.22, 22.22 (20 min journey).