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You will probably have an included visit to the Borromean Islands (MTM itinerary). Reconfirm timings and check you have cash or ACIS card to pay entrances on Isola Bella. You may also have a voucher to pay this entrance.
FACTS AND FREETIME SUGGESTIONS
The resort is small enough to get around on foot. You do not need to conduct a walking tour although you could orientate the group by showing them the lakefront and how to get to Piazza Cadorna.
Tourist Office – Located at Piazza Marconi (Porto Turistico). This is where the public ferry services and tourist boats leave from.
Post office and pharmacy – located near Piazza Cadorna. This is the main square, surrounded by streets where the group can shop or visit cafes and gelaterias. Here you will also find ATMs and mony exchange places.
Walk along lakefront and admire views of the lake and islands.
Monte Mottarone. If you have time you can take a cable car from Piazzale Lido (20 minute walk or short drive from the centre of Stresa) to the top of Monte Mottarone to visit the botanical garden and enjoy views of the lake. This is open during daytime only so it is unlikely you will have time.
San Carlone colossal statue. In the adjacent town of Arona, a short drive from Stresa. Combined entrances to the gardens and the inside of the colossus.
Villa Pallavicino Stately home with zoo, 20 minutes walk in the other direction. Again, it is unlikely your group will have freetime to visit.
Minigolf there is a café with minigolf garden (floodlit) on the lakefront on the way to Pallavicino: you could visit if your group want a planned activity in the evening.
BORROMEAN ISLANDS
It is likely you will have a private boat chartered to take your group to visit the nearby islands. A visit to the Isola Bella will be included. Check vouchers for timings. A guided service is normally not included but you can ask at the ticket booth if a guide is available and with a little extra for each passenger you can pay it. Your boat captain will meet you at the Porto Turistico in Stresa. It does not take more than 15 minutes to get to the island. There may be a microphone available on the boat but it might be better to give some background information on the way to Stresa.
On arrival at Isola Bella make a rendezvous with the group and the skipper to depart from the same place you arrived. The ticket office is to the right of the façade you can see, in a little square. You pay entrances and meet your guide there. After the visit of the palace give the group free time to explore the gardens, exit, buy souvenirs and meet you at the pier.
If you want and have time (the boat is hired only for a limited amount of time) you could also make a short stop at the Isola dei Pescatori. This is a small but inhabited
island with an old church, a few shops, bars and restaurants, and views of the other islands.
If a tour to the island is not included in the program you can either organize an excursion by private launch (boat captains will most likely approach you as soon as you get off the bus at the Pzza Marconi) or tell the participants to use the official Lago Maggiore boats to visit Isola Bella, Isola Madre and/or Isola dei Pescatori.
