Mount Mottarone

Saturday
Today promised to be a fine day, so we took the cable car up to Mount Mottaone, 4,892 ft. Part way up there is a mid station at Alpino, which allows you to get off and take a shortish walk to visit the Alpine Gardens. We found these to be a little disappointing, though there is a wonderful viewpoint over the Borromean Islands and Maggiore. Having got off the second stretch of the cable car, you then take a chair lift to the very top. From the summit there are amazing 360 degree panoramic views across the Po Valley to the Alps, and you can see seven lakes: Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, Lake Mergozzo, Lake Varese, Lake Comabbio, Lake Monate and Lake Biandronno! We first walked in one direction, then returned to the top of the chair lift and had a drink and a sandwich from the cafe, then went for a wander in the other direction. When we returned to the hotel, we went for a swim in the pool, before changing for dinner. This evening we walked the 15 minutes or so into the centre of Stresa, passing the huge ritzy hotels on the lakefront - beyond our budget! I have put a couple in the extras!