Stresa, VB, Italy
Featured Lodging
Villa Aminta
What to expect: The family owned and operated Hotel Villa Aminta is a highly decorative 19th-century villa, renovated in 2002-3 to restore the original Venetian style. It is set in lush floral gardens overlooking the lake, with antiques, wrought-iron railings, Murano-glass chandeliers, molded stuccos, Oriental sculptures, and Chinese ceramics recalling Venice's days as Europe's trading gateway to Asia. |
Amenity highlights: Bordered by hedges and flowers are a 20-metre-long freeform pool and a deck furnished with umbrellas and cushioned sun loungers. The hotel offers lessons (surcharge) in porcelain painting, decoupage, cooking, and wine appreciation. Two fine-dining restaurants overlooking the lake, with the option of terrace seating, serve refined Italian cuisine.
Insider tip: An information centre in Stresa's lakeside piazza offers a complimentary brochure detailing several hiking and walking routes ranging from two to four hours. One route goes up the slopes of 1,491-metre Mottarone mountain. A low-level route leads to the so-called Panoramica road, from which there are sweeping views of the lake.
Grand Hotel Bristol
- Neo-classical hotel with landscaped grounds on the shores of Lake Maggiore in the town of Stresa, one kilometre from the zoo.
- Guestrooms have traditional style decor and furnishings and co-ordinated patterned fabrics; all have satellite television.
- Guests can make use of the sauna, jetted tub and indoor and outdoor pools or enjoy the lake views from the splendid gardens.
