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
Stresa

Stresa

Stresa

Isola Bella, Stresa


Stresa

Stresa

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 Bella, Stresa

Isola Bella, Stresa

Isola Bella, Stresa

Isola Bella, Stresa

Isola Bella, Stresa

Isola Bella, Stresa

Isola Bella, Stresa

Isola Bella, Stresa

Isola Bella, Stresa
Isola Madre, Stresa

Isola Madre, Stresa

Isola Madre, Stresa

Isola Madre, Stresa

Isola Madre, Stresa

Isola Madre, Stresa

Isola Madre, Stresa

Isola Madre, Stresa
 
Isola Superiore, 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

Santa Catherina,Varese

Santa Catherina,Varese
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 Sud, Orridi di Uriezzo, Premia

Orrido Sud, Orridi di Uriezzo, Premia

Orrido Sud, Orridi di Uriezzo, Premia

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

Orto San Giulio, Lago di Omegna

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.

Turin - Torino


Turin - Torino

Turin - Torino

Turin - Torino

Turin - Torino
 
Turin - Torino
Last port of call San Remo, even here it was tremendously hot and humid. I managed to explore the old city, a warren of narrow passages.


San Remo

San Remo

San Remo

San Remo

San Remo

San Remo

San Remo


San Remo