NIGEL'S RAMBLES: August 2011

Friday, August 26, 2011

What I did on my Holidays

The early morning ferry Stresa

This year we stayed in Italy for our holidays. Our first stop was Stresa on Lago Maggiore in Piemonte. The best way to travel around here is by taking the ferry.

Dawn Stresa

Stresa

Isola Bella, Stresa

Stresa

I managed to visit the 3 islands: Isola Bella, Isola Maggiore and Isola Madre.

The Italianate gardens on Isola Bella are spectacular, Isola Superiore is mainly an overcrowded tourist trap but with some interesting corners, whilst the more distant and less crowded botanic gardens on Isola Madre are very relaxing.

Isola Bella, Stresa

Isola Madre, Stresa

Isola Superiore, Stresa

Another nice trip was to the Santa Catherina monastery on the Lombard side of the lake.

The monastery is built on a cliff face and the only easy way to get there is by boat. It is also free to visit.

Santa Catherina,Varese

Lago Maggiore

I managed to get a day in the mountains above Domodossola where i visited the “Orridi di Uriezzo – Baceno” a series of narrow gorges, the most spectacular being the “Orrido Sud”. Unlike the “Orrido di Botri” they are without water and therefore are easy to explore.

Orrido Sud, Orridi di Uriezzo, Premia

Orrido Nord Est, Orridi di Uriezzo, Premia

Orridi di Uriezzo, Premia

Lago Omegna over the mountain from Stresa has an interesting monastery in the middle of the lake at Orto san Giulio.

Orto San Giulio, Lago di Omegna

We made a stopover in Turin the centre of which I have never seen. Quite spectacular in August when most of the Torinesi are on holiday and one can enjoy the vast squares. The only negative was the August heat coupled with tropical humidity.