Ok, I almost don’t even want to say the name of this place. I want to keep it a secret. Preserve its magic. Keep it from becoming over run like Cinque Terre.
I don’t think Rick mentions it much (thankfully?) but someone from this forum mentioned it (thank you!) and we took a chance. Boy, we were NOT disappointed.
We stayed in a lovely hotel (Hotel du Parc) which once was a private residence. The old charm abounds: glass chandeliers, wrought iron staircases, amazing carved ceilings in the common rooms. Yet the modern conveniences have been added: marble bathrooms, an elevator, a bar, air conditioning, parking, a fridge in the room, a wonderful extensive breakfast.
The hotel sits just above town, and our room had a view of the town, the lake, and the alps beyond. It is spectacular. We had clear, warm days and enjoying the view was just heaven. The lakefront is a 3 minute walk, assuming you don’t stop at the grocery, pharmacy, the town’s best gelato shop, a pastry shop or several gift shops along the way.
We heard very little English spoken by other visitors over two days of exploring. Lots of Italian and German. Some French, a few Brits. So I think it’s not yet on the American radar.
Can we keep it a secret? Just a little while longer? It’s obviously popular with Europeans, so I guess word will get out eventually. So here it is: Stresa. An absolute gem on Lake Maggiore. Dare I say it: I like it better than Varenna on Lake Como. Could easily spend a week here, exploring the various villages. I would move here in a heartbeat. Maybe my new favorite place in Europe.