Questions about Stresa Italy and the islands
 

I'll have one day in Stresa between Sicily and Switzerland this July. We won't get there till late afternoon and the next day we need to train to Interlaken, though we have no specific time frame so could spend as much of the day as we want. Obviously the islands are the main draw. In fact, we picked Stresa based on the recommendation of some friends who know I love gardens. So that's my question. I want to see the gardens but have very little interest in the villas (interiors). Can you visit just the gardens? Is there anything to see on the islands without paying the admission fee to enter the villas? What about Isola Superiore, the fishing village? I can find no information about it other than it's "cute". Any other suggestions of things to do or see in the area.

Hi Isabel,

We stayed on Isola dei Pescatore 5 years ago at the Hotel Verbano. We absolutely loved it! It is the smallest island and there is not much there except for the hotel and a couple of restaurants that are open for lunch only. The Hotel Verbano has an excellent reastaurant for dinner.

Our room was lovely, bath big and we shared a huge water front terrace with 2 other rooms. the terrace faces north so you a view of the lake and alps in the distance.

Public boat service to the islands ends in the early evening, so the island is dead quiet at night. If you need to come or go when the public boats are not running, the hotel will make advance arrangements with a private boat at your request. More expensive, but not horrible.

While there (2 nights) we visited all 3 islands plus Stresa and Villa Taranto with the famous gardens.

Isola Bella is the closest and best. The gardens are beautiful, with lots of sculptures and white peacocks. You can buy an optional ticket to tour the villa and we found it very interesting. I would recommend it.

Isola Madre has nice gardens too, with many exotic birds like Chinese Pheasants. You can take a short, optional tour of the villa, but there is not much to see. Most of the furniture is gone. I would skip this villa.

Villa Taranto takes a while to get to and I don't think you will have time, unless you see it on the way to Switzerland. The gardens are huge. We missed the azalia (SP?) bloom and there wasn't much else blooming in May. Still beautiful though.

We also enjoyed Stresa for strolling and a little shopping, and of course a gellato stop!

Highly recommend the Hotel Verbano, just 14 rooms.

Buon viaggio!

Stresa is wonderful, Isola Bella is also. I agree with Dayle, the Villa on Isola Bella is very worthwhile to see, and the gardens on Isola Bella are beautiful. You will be in a very wonderful location. Enjoy every moment.

We have also stayed at Hotel Verbano. The three days there were some of the best of any of our trips to Italy. Pescatori is crowded during the day, but you could enjoy it the evening you arrive and then go to Isola Bella and Villa Taranto the next day. It is a gardener's dream. PJK

Hi, thanks for the replys. Dayle, if I'm reading your post correctly you seem to say that you can visit the gardens on Isola Bella without paying to visit the villa. That's what I was hoping to do but I couldn't find any information. I just saw that the admission fee to the "villa" was €8. I'm not into opoulant villas so it would be nice to just do the garden. Also, as my husband is not really into either, are there cafes or restaurants on the island where he could sit and sip a wine and people watch while I toured the garden?