Culture

In addition to visiting the Borromeo islands (by ferry from Belgirate and Stresa), we also recommend a short walk up the hill behind Torre Lara to see the Old Church of Belgirate, whose foundations date back to Roman times, and possesses extremely beautiful medieval frescoes. You can enjoy a number of music and theater festivals between June and September – the Stresa Jazz Festival, Classical Music at Lake Orta, Baroque music at Santa Caterina del Sasso and Belgirate's Old Church, and travelling theater groups that regularly  stage shows in the towns along the lake. Or visit an antique and flea market every Sunday of the month in one of Lake Maggiore’s town squares!

Food & Wine

Piedmont offers exceptionally high quality, delicious food and wine products. The Nebbiolo grape grows in the Novaresi (Novara) hills. And the towns of Gattinara (where you can find the headquarters of the Provincial Enoteca), Ghemme and Sizzano, produce high quality local wines. The locally produced Vespola and Nebbiolo are also extremely good. If you head in the direction of Vercelli, you can visit the famous towns of Arborio and Villarboit, that both produce some of Italy’s best loved and very high quality rice. Some of the region’s best alpine cheeses are produced in the hills overlooking the lake: the Toma del Mottarone, Toma di Crodo, the famous Crodo butter and the internationally renowned Gorgonzola.
Lake Maggiore supplies the Persico (perch) fish and a local favourite - Coregone-Lavarello. Restaurants and trattorias magically transform this unique range of culinary products into delicious and appetizing dishes!

• Il Rapanello di Lesa, tutto pesce. tel: 0322 7496 (booking strongly recommended)
  
  
• La Bruma, Belgirate (excellent selection of local and organic beers). tel: 0322 7489
  
  
• I Due Piccioni, Stresa. tel: 0323 934556
  
  
• La Cascinetta, Gignese (good quality, traditional, family-run restaurant, in the hills above Stresa) tel: 0323 20780
  
  
• La trattoria San Salvatore, Massino Visconti, (ex-convent, converted into a charming trattoria, famous for its Piemontese ‘snacks’ - aperitifs of meat and cheese platters, with breathtaking views over the lake)  tel. 0322 219301 / 392 351 2241
  
  
• Molly Malone’s pub, Nebbiuno/Meina (Live music, excellent local Piemonte meat dishes and real ale) tel. 348 474 8135
• Ask us for directions to the best ‘truly Italian’ (Neapolitan) pizza!

• La Spiaggetta di Belgirate, outdoor lounge terrace on the lake
• Anelli Food & Wine, Belgirate
• Piazza Cadorna in Stresa (free open-air summer jazz in the square)
• Guffanti, Arona (‘the Eden of Italian Cheese!’), wine and cheese tasting, unique cheese cellars with collection of world-class cheeses
• La Casera, Verbania (salumeria/cheese and meat platters, wine, beer and top-quality selection of Italian and international culinary delights!)