While in Stresa, we plan to take a day trip to Locarno on the Centovalli train. RS suggests spending an hour there before returning to Stresa by boat. Another source suggests taking the ferry on to the "artists'" town of Ascona and spending our time there instead. Anyone?
Posted by
Italy
247 posts
Ascona is a charming town, smaller and nicer than Locarno (http://www.centovalli.ch/offertalagoexprese.htm).
Posted by
Tucson, AZ, USA
134 posts
Hi Mary,
We spent 4 days in Stresa after a RS tour and loved it. The only disappointment was using up a whole day taking the Centovalli train up to Locarno and boat back. It is mostly woods (no great vistas) and if you have taken the boat tour of the Islands at Stresa, you have seen the best part. We walked the waterfront and took the chairlift one day for gorgeous views of the lake and mountains. What we wish we had done instead of the Centovalli train/boat trip, was to take the advice of our friends and do a day trip from Stresa to Zermat and see the Matterhorn.
Posted by
OP
White Bear Lake, MN, USA
11 posts
Teri,
Thank you so much for the suggestion. I will look into the Zermat trip. We just viewed a travel film on the Matterhorn. Maybe the Universe was trying to tell me something.
Regards,
Mary
Posted by
Tucson, AZ, USA
134 posts
Mary, If you want to get a good idea of the area, go to Google Earth and put in Stresa, then scan north and slightly west to Domodossola which is where you change trains from Stresa to get to Locarno. You can then scan east and slightly north to get to Locarno. Go back to Domodossola and scan west and slight south to see Zermatt. If you zoom in close you can click on purple dots to see great photos of each area. Just getting to see Stresa and touring the islands nearby is such a wonderful experience that I'm sure whatever you decide you will enjoy.