Here the video of the day 8
Photo 2: The path
Today eighth day of the tour of the lakes, a few kilometers, about thirty, but a lot, a lot, a lot of stuff. I wake up and immediately go to breakfast at 7, hoping not to find the two couples who were at the nearby table last night. One couple was always silent and suffered, the other was the classic ugly Milanese couple. He pressed the other, telling him they could go on vacation together to the Bahamas, but that they would take a hotel where you don’t spend too much: “But he looks not for me, but for you”. And she bragged to the other about the clothes and the jewels. The two poor, suffered and practically nodded and kept silent. All with that typical accent of the skits of the ugly Milanese that you see on YouTube (sorry non-Italian friends). Luckily they weren’t there and I was able to eat my breakfast with a view of the Borromean islands.
Photo 3: Some hotels of Stresa, the little is mine! Photo 4: Isola Bella, Borromee Islands, Lake Maggiore Photo 5: Isola Bella, the little harbour, Lake Maggiore
The program of the day says: visit to Isola Bella and to the Borromeo palace, with the gardens, then return and doing a little crafty, I will use the boats instead of pedaling to get to Intra and from there to Laveno by ferry. The reason is that I have already done a long way and I don’t want to do it again. And by doing so I can dedicate myself to visiting Isola Bella and also other visits, which gradually came to mind as I stayed in Stresa. At 9 am boat to Isola Bella. To welcome me the usual chaos of stalls, restaurants and small semi-itinerant bars. Fortunately, there are few people and the museum opens at 10 and I am the first to get the ticket.
Photo 6: Borromeo Palace, Isola Bella Photo 7: Isola Bella Photo 8: Isola Bella, view on Fishermen’s Island
I first visit the villa of the Borromeans and in all honesty, the galleries of the palace are not that great, as, apart from some 17th century paintings by an anonymous Lombard painter or some other completely unknown painter, there are copies of famous paintings of Renaissance painters, because this was the custom in the 17th century. Well, then I too am very happy to have a Miro at home, a copy made by a friend, I could put up a gallery too!
Photo 9: Borromeo’s Palace, Isola Bella Photo 10: Borromeo’s Palace, Isola Bella Photo 11: Borromeo’s Palace, Isola Bella Photo 12: Borromeo’s Palace, Isola Bella Photo 13: Borromeo’s Palace, Isola Bella Photo 14: Borromeo’s Palace, Isola Bella
Joking aside, the furnishings, the beds also used by Napoleonic generals, and the caves overlooking the lake with large arches, all decorated in marine style, with walls of stones brought from Vesuvius, which make up ornaments in the shape of shells, are remarkable.
Photo 15: Borromeo’s garden, Isola Bella Photo 16: Borromeo’s garden, Isola Bella Photo 17: Borromeo’s garden, Isola Bella
The garden is certainly the triumph of the Italian garden, with terraces on various levels, sloping down to the shore. A theater with fountains and mythological statues, with flower beds with different flowers for each one. I leave in time to take the boat and return to the hotel to take the bicycle and luggage. The captain said yes, bike forward and off to Intra. I eat crackers with sesame seeds and honey and tarallucci. The sun beats down at the bow, will sunscreen protection 15 be enough? We pass all 3 of the Borromean islands, and in Intra I arrive in time for the connection to Laveno. And today I start pedaling at almost 3pm.
Photo 18: Santa Caterina del Sasso Hermitage Photo 19: Santa Caterina del Sasso Hermitage Photo 20: Santa Caterina del Sasso Hermitage Photo 21: Santa Caterina del Sasso Hermitage
Second stage Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso. A hermitage that is practically in front of Stresa, perched on a rocky wall overlooking the lake. I go down an endless series of steps and arrive in the presence of magnificence! Here, if I have to be honest, this is the goal that gives value to this day! This place has the flavor of the non-tourist, even if it is. There are no small shops and junk sellers. The interior of the hermitage, with the appropriate sacred music, calls to meditation and silence, the only sound is that of the waves of the lake breaking on the rock below. The refectory, with the frescoes on the walls, is the other room that can be visited and brings to mind the images of friars singing Gregorian melodies before eating. Two rooms in all, but a lot of artistic and human value. I remake the steps and my heart is pumping strong and unlike the other days, even pedaling sweats. I realize that even here I would have been entitled to the reduced ticket, oh but no one gives me more than 65 years, and I pay, I have to remember it ?.
Photo 22: Rocca di Angera, view from the tower Photo 23: Rocca di Angera, the Justice room Photo 24: Rocca di Angera, dolls museum Photo 25: Rocca di Angera, dolls museum
I continue towards the Rocca di Angera. Being a fortress, of course, it is on top of something, I can’t pedal, the final part of the climb is too hard, I go down and push! It would have been nice to visit this castle with our children. In fact, inside, there is the museum of vintage dolls and toys, collected in a large number of rooms. As a good boy I am attracted more to vintage cars or the first Meccano construction toys, which occupied my childhood turning screws and bolts, but already from those constructions it was clear that I would never become an engineer! Another gallery of medieval paintings and halls, with paintings that recall the exploits of the various noblemen of the Borromeo family. I climb over the tower and dominate Lake Maggiore, with Arona in front.
Photo 26: Sant’Anna ex idroscalo
Photo 27: Sant’Anna ex idroscalo
I start towards Sesto Calende, and I remember Salvatore’s advice. In the hamlet of Sant’Anna, right at the extreme limit of Lake Maggiore, where its Ticino emissary is starting its journey again, there is the old seaplane base, which is the history of Italian military aviation, but also of the world. In fact, from here the seaplane squadrons, led by Italo Balbo, left for the Atlantic crossings of the 1930s, which caused so much uproar in world public opinion. The reclamation of many unexploded bombs, dropped by the allies during the Second World War, and handed over to the use of the population as a park has recently been completed. Arrival in Sesto Calende, on the Ticino river, the destination of this evening. See you tomorrow.
