, March 2017

Nature reawakens and the high season starts with the best that our region has to offer: islands and gardens, villas, parks, flowers, food, wellness, outdoor activities and major events!

From 24 March 2017, the date that marks the beginning of the high season in the Distretto Turistico dei Laghi area with the opening of the islands, our beautiful district – which includes the valleys and mountains of Ossola and , and Lake , three magnificent stretches of water – is ready to welcome Italian and international visitors.

THE MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

On Sunday 13 March, high season begins in the Parco della Rocca di Arona, an architec- tural and scenic gem that was the birthplace of San Carlo Borromeo. The park will be open daily from 13 March to 30 April from 10.00 to 19.00, with extended opening hours un- til 21.00 on Friday and Saturday. From 1 May to 15 October, the park will be open until 20.00 during the week and until 22.00 on Friday and Saturday (it will be closed on Mondays). From 15 October 2017 to 13 March 2018, it will only be open on Saturday and Sunday from 10.30 to 17.00. Many events are scheduled to take place in this beautiful natural setting, including the “Mostra d’auto d’epoca” (Classic Car Show) on 18/6, the music festival “Avis In Rock” on 8 and 9/7 and “Cori della Rocca” (Rocca Choirs) on 24/9. There will be many other musical and theatrical events of various kinds. Notably, during 2017 the Torre Mozza will be restored (info and updates: www.parcoroccaarona.com).

Not far from the Rocca di Arona is “San Carlone”, the enormous statue devoted to San Carlo (35.1 metres tall), which rises up on the hill adjacent to the Rocca: you can already visit the monument on Sundays and public holidays from 1 to 19 March (9-12.30 and 14- 16.30), and it will open daily from 20 March to 15 October from 9.00 to 12.20 and from 14.00 to 18.15 and throughout the day on Sundays and public holidays. The winter timetable runs from 16 October to 29 November, during which it will be open on weekends and public holidays, and from 1 to 30 December, during which it will only be open on Sundays and 8 December. New in 2017: on Sunday 9 April, a new themed route dedicated to the life of San Carlo will be opened, installed in the park surrounding the statue. In July, the park will host the 3rd edition of the musical event “Suoni e Colori al Colle di San Carlo” (Sounds and Colors on San Carlo’s Hill). Finally, this year entrance to the statue will be free to all residents of Arona! (Info: +39 0322 249669 and www.statuasancarlo.it / Arona Tourist Information Office: +39 0322 243601).

The Botanical Gardens of Villa Taranto will be open daily, including public holidays, from Wednesday 15 March to Wednesday 1 November 2017 (March from 9.00 to 17.30, from April to September from 8.30 to 18.30, from 1 to 15 October from 9.00 to 16.30 and from 15 October to 1 November from 9.00 to 16.00). March will see the arrival of the first spring blooms: edgeworthias, prunus, magnolias, for- sythias, daffodils, tulips and over 35,000 newly-planted muscari will adorn lawns and bor- ders. Later in the season, you can admire large patches of hundreds of rhododendrons and azaleas, while in the summer, the queen of aquatic plants, the tropical “Victoria Cruziana” water lily, always captivates tourists. A new vertical garden has been planted in the greenhouse that contains this rarity, an addition that will certainly interest visitors and give them ideas for “green” interiors. And there are also many dahlias and green labyrinths to discover! New in 2017: you will now be able to buy membership that allows you to visit the Gardens throughout the whole season or just during the summer. Finally, it is worth noting the collaboration with the Swiss railway company BLS AG, which is designed to increase foreign tourism, and the “Come to Verbania” initiative, which offers a discoun- ted entry fee for individual tourists staying for a minimum of 3 nights in hotels in the town. Weather permitting, the events scheduled during the opening period include: the “Mostra della Camelia” (Camelia Show - March, with guided visits), the “Settimane del Tulipano” (Tulip Weeks – 9-25 April), “Colori senza Confini” (Colors Without Borders – from mid-April to mid-May), “Fior d’Acqua” (Water Flowers – from June to August), “Victoria Cruziana in flower” (from 20 June to the end of October) and the “Mostra delle Dahlie” (Dahlia Show – last week of July to the end of October). Lastly, do not miss out on the reduced admission for members during the “Settimane del Fai” (FAI Weeks), the “Turista nella tua città” (Tour- ist in your city) promotions for residents and the creative spaces with workshops by Anna Flower (Botanical Gardens of Villa Taranto Info: www.villataranto.it).

The Villa Pallavicino Zoo Park in reopens in mid-March with the same opening hours and prices as last year: an area of around 20 hectares containing flowery paths, ancient trees, a beautiful botanical garden and the main attraction, the animals! You can observe over 40 species of mammals and exotic birds (llamas, kangaroos, zebras and flamingos), which live in large natural spaces. New in 2017: the redesign of informative material, brochures and the website, as well as scheduled educational sessions that can be booked by reservation (info and full events calendar: www.parcopallavicino.it).

The Alpine Garden reopens on Saturday 8 April (it is open up to and including Tuesday 31 October all day from 9.30 to 18.00), a 40,000 sq m natural balcony overlooking Mottarone, where you can relax while admiring the landscape and staying in close contact with nature. Prices are the same as last year. Scheduled events include: on 6 and 7 May, in col- laboration with the Italian Association of Landscape Architecture, there will be a day de- voted to “Open Gardens”, with reduced admission for groups of over 5 people and a free guide available by reservation. The “Festa della Fioritura” (Flowering Festival) will be held on 17 June with free entry from 16.30 and guided tours with the garden’s naturalist. The festival will include refreshments and a performance by a folk group. The “Mostra Micolo- gica” (Mycological Show) will take place on 17 September, featuring a mycological route inside the park, while a market will be organized on the opposite square, which will sell flowers, plants, typical products of the Mottarone area and handicrafts, as well as featur- ing demonstrations. (Info: www.giardinobotanicoalpinia.altervista.org)

There is great anticipation ahead of the opening of the Madre and Bella on Friday 24 March, which will remain open until 22 October 2017 from 9.00 to 17.30 (last entrance). You will be able to buy a “Family ticket”: if you buy two adult tickets and two child tickets, the second child ticket will be free! Among the new developments for 2017 is the completion of the restoration of Sperindio Cagnoli’s magnificent “San Rocco”, which has restored the vibrant colors of this highly devotional work: the painted panel by the 16th-century master will welcome visitors to the Palazzo on the Isola Bella from its opening day onwards. This season, Palazzo on Isola Bella will be more accessible thanks to a new elevator, which was installed following difficult negotiations with the Superintendency of ’s Architectural Heritage, which required the installation to respect the building’s 17th-century architecture. Finally, the Borromean Islands have been enhanced with new languages: from the start of next tourist season, you will be able to visit the Bella and Madre islands with the help of an app (launched last season) in 4 languages. The app was formerly available in Italian and English and now also offers French and German. After downloading the app, visitors can access an extensive photo gallery before exploring the islands. Equipped with their mobile phone, they can enjoy a range of artistic, historical and botanical information during their visit. And that’s not all: the app will also allow visitors to get a better view of details of architecture, furnishings and artworks, which, due to their position, can be difficult to fully analyse “in the flesh”. Also, if visitors get distracted and are unsure about their route, this is no problem: the geolocation feature will show them where they are and will take them along the best visiting route. Starting this year, visitors can choose to “freely” follow the route, by simply reading information, with a professional guided visit (bookings: www.borromeoturismo.it), with an audio guide or using the app. The visit will be an unforgettable experience that accounts for everyone’s interests, time and preferences (info: www.isoleborromee.it).

As always, the islands can be reached by the Navigazione Lago Maggiore boats, whose tourist season extends from 8 April to 8 October 2017! Visitors will be able to experience a timeless trip to the Borromean Islands, which can be reached by boats that depart from Stresa, and Pallanza. As well as an enjoyable trip across the lake, these boats offer an interesting cultural “journey” featuring the history and artistic beauty of palaces and gardens. One of the most popular cruises will certainly return: the “Lago Maggiore Express”, which offers an unforgettable tour encompassing the “Navigazione Lago Maggiore” boats, the “Vigezzina – Centovalli” narrow-gauge moun- tain railway and the trains of “Trenitalia”: you cross all of Lake Maggiore by boat, all of Centovalli in and Valle Vigezzo on the panoramic train, finally reaching Do- modossola, from where you return to your point of departure on the Trenitalia trains. There are many different starting points on offer and the ticket is valid for one or two days. Once again you will be able to enjoy all the connections this season, both by boat and hydrofoil, between and Switzerland and the dedicated connections during the days of the famous market. Traveling on the lake by boat, tourists will be able to have lunch or dinner on board, choosing from a tourist menu for both adults and children (fares, timetables, cruises, rental prices and news are available on the official website ,www.navigazionelaghi.it and all the info on the toll-free number: 800.551801).

As always, you will also be able to reach the islands via the motorboats of private consortiums.

Meanwhile, Lake Orta is served by Navigazione Lago d'Orta, which offers daily routes (from 2 April to 1 October, there will be a daily service on the entire lake, including , with continuous departures) at fixed times (fares, timetables, cruises, offers and news are available on the official website www.navigazionelagodorta.it). New in 2017 is “Electric mobility and boating”: tourists who choose to visit Lake Orta on Omegna’s Etraction electric bicycles (www.etraction.it) will be able to navigate with a daily ticket priced at 8.90 euro and to bring their bikes on board. You will be able to reach the Isola di San Giulio (unchanged service, operating every day with departures every 15 minutes) by motor boats on Lake Orta organized by the Consorzio Navigazione Servizio Pubblico di (fares, timetables, cruises, offers and news are available on the official website www.motoscafisti.com), which accompanies all visitors in search of charming, meditative views, such as that of the magnificent Basilica di San Giulio. There is a mini-cruise around the Isola di San Giulio on 24/6 to coincide with the romantic evening promoted by the Municipality of Orta San Giulio. As always, during the celebrations of San Vito in Omegna you will be able to watch spectacular firework displays over the lake on board one of the boats (advance booking is required). During the high tourist season, visitors will be able to book 30-minute cruises, enabling them to admire the old area of Orta San Giulio, the villas and the centre of the lake, with a final stop on the Isola di San Giulio to visit the Basilica.

IN THE DISTRETTO TURISTICO DEI LAGHI, MONTI E VALLI DELL’OSSOLA AREA, 2017 WILL BE A YEAR THAT OFFERS PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO RELAX, ENJOY LOCAL FOOD AND WINE AND PARTICIPATE IN MAJOR EVENTS.

It is definitely worth visiting the Parco degli Agrumi in Cannero during the “Gli agrumi di ” (The citrus fruits of Cannero Riviera) show. When spring arrives, the Cannero Riviera gardens open their gates to the public, so that everyone can enjoy the brightness, colours and fragrance of the northernmost citrus fruits in Italy. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the show, many more events are being held, spread over nine days, from 11 to 19 March. Educational and artistic exhibitions, installations created with the collaboration of famous landscape designers, cooking courses, tastings, animations, workshops, music, tea rooms, themed menus in the restaurants, guided tours, a plant market, high-quality agro-food products and handicrafts. One of the key words of the 2017 edition will be “color” and one of the new additions will be a competition to create decorative/artistic compositions from citrus fruits, which will be divided into two sections: amateur and professional. Since 2016, Cannero Riviera’s citrus-producing heritage has been protected by a “Production regulation” that guarantees and protects the quality of plants and fruits grown in the local area (info and updates: www.cannero.it).

The "Mostra della Camelia" (Camellia Exhibition) in Verbania returns on 25 and 26 March, the emblem of flower production that began 150 years ago in the Lake Maggiore area and now plays a major role in the European sector, with 5 million specimens cultivated by around a hundred companies in the provinces of Verbano Cusio Ossola and . The event, which annually attracts visitors from all over Italy and from abroad, will be held in a new location, inside the new “Il Maggiore” Theatre Events Centre in Verbania, a futuristic architectural complex that overlooks the lake, which was designed by the famous Spanish architect Salvator Perez Arroyo. Alongside the exhibition of over 300 varieties of spring-flowering camellias produced by local nurseries (Lake Maggiore is the leading producer of acidophilic plants after China and Japan), there are scheduled guided tours around the botanical gardens of Villa Taranto, and around splendid private parks with truly unique collections of camellias such as Villa Anelli in , Villa Rusoni Clerici and Villino San Remigio in Verbania. Tours are provided by exceptional guides: botanists and the curators of the gardens. The tours must be booked in advance (Municipality of Verbania Tourist Office Tel. 0323503249). There will be no shortage of events featuring experts and collectors, ranging from the plant market, which is directly managed by the Consorzio Fiori Tipici Lago Maggiore growers’ association, to retailers of camellia-based perfumes and cosmetics, news publications about the world of gardens and flowers, jewellery with camellia leaves, workshops for children and many other curiosities. There will also be an area dedicated to Arturo Toscanini, celebrating 150 years since his birth, which will involve the Arturo Toscanini Foundation. The celebrated conductor spent a lot of time in Verbania on the little island of San Giovanni during the summer holidays. Related events will include an exhibition of watercolours by Carla Chiaberta. The event is organized by the Municipality of Verbania and the Lake Maggiore Flower Consortium. Partners of the event include the Piedmont Region, Distretto Turistico dei Laghi, the Italian Camellia Society and the Verbania Garden Club (Opening hours: from 10.30 to 18.30. Free admission. Info: +39 0323 503249 www.lagomaggiorefiori.it).

Musical firework displays return to light up the summer! Summer 2017 will see the return of the highly-anticipated and successful fireworks and musical pyrotechnics shows, which every year attract a large Italian and international audience of over 300,000 people to the area, offering thrilling displays in a natural lakeside and mountain setting. The following locations have already been confirmed as part of the festival: Arona, , , Mottarone, Omegna, San Domenico, Santa Maria Maggiore, and Verbania (info and updates www.distrettolaghi.it). The positive collaboration with the Vette d’Artificio festival, now in its third edition, will also continue in 2017. This eagerly-awaited festival is the only musical pyrotechnics festival in the mountainous part of Italy. Last year, it drew thousands of spectators to the towns involved. These musical pyrotechnics shows benefit the mountain resorts involved and have minimal environmental impact thanks to the experience of the festival organizer, GFG Pyro. This collaboration will once again enable the presentation of a complete show that covers the entire lake and mountain area (info and updates: www.vettedartificio.it). The traditional summer music festivals have also been already confirmed:

Stresa Festival, one of the most important classical music festivals worldwide, will return in 2017 with a new series of unmissable events on the shores of Lake Maggiore and in the surrounding area: historic, remarkably elegant locations such as the Salone degli Arazzi in Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Bella, the Loggia del Cashmere, the Palazzo dei Congressi in Stresa, the new “Il Maggiore” event centre in Verbania and many other locations are scheduled to host events yet again this summer. The 56th edition of Stresa Festival will open with the Midsummer Jazz Concerts (from 18 to 23 July), which will be held on the outdoor terrace of the Lungolago La Palazzola and at the Maggiore. Great musicians will take turns night after night (always starting at 21.00), offering a dive into the history of jazz. Stresa Festival will continue on 25, 26 and 27 July with Meditazioni in Musica (Meditations in Music): an unmissable opportunity to enjoy the combination of music and landscape in the picturesque Eremo di Santa Caterina del Sasso (wihch will reopen its doors to host J.S. Bach’s Cello Suites) and the Chiesa Vecchia di with its enchanting lake view. This year, the main theme of the Festival is “Meetings”. From Wednesday 23 August to Friday 8 September, there will be many star events, above all the orchestral concerts: the London Symphony Orchestra and pianist Khatia Buniatishvili will be back by popular demand for the second year running, followed by the Filarmonica Teatro Regio di Torino, both conducted by Gianandrea Noseda, as well as the Tonhalle Orchester conducted by Lionel Bringuier with Francesco Piemontesi at the piano. The festival will also feature multimedia and interdisciplinary projects: these projects, which began several years ago, demonstrate the festival’s desire to open up to new forms of expression that complement music, which remains the absolute nucleus of the event. During the opening night, dance and theatre will accompany the performance of Stravinsky’s “Histoire du soldat”, which is narrated through choreography by Sanpapiè and the voice of Valter Malosti, with the soprano Alda Caiello and the Stresa Festival Ensemble conducted by Duncan Ward. A striking new scenic video will be projected, inspired by the paintings in an exhibition on Mussorgsky, music and dance will merge to show the true essence of flamenco and finally shadow theatre will enliven Shostakovich’s stage music for Hamlet. There will also be two events featuring famous writers in the Italian literary scene (info: www.stresafestival.eu).

One of the standout musical events is “Musica in Quota 2017” (Music at High Altitude), which features excursions and free live concerts in the picturesque Alpine setting of Piedmont: 12 events between June and September. The backdrop to this event will greatly vary: from the green alpine pastures overlooking Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta to the refuges set among the peaks of the Lepontine Alps. It opens in June with the classic event in the , in Pian d’Arla, a stunning terrace overlooking Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta (info: www.facebook.com/musicainquota).

The Festival di Musica Barocca “Di Parola in Musica” (‘Words in Music’ Music Festival) returns for the third year running, performed by the Zebo Orchestra (an ecological orchestra, for which compensatory reforestation is an ethical imperative. Through the myclimate.org foundation, the environmental impact of every event is calculated in terms of C02 emissions and trees are planted, enlarging protected natural parts). Once again, the event will involve municipalities on our side of Lake Maggiore “networking” to offer visitors and residents a new formula, in which music can be enjoyed at several concerts in narrative form! Events will be held from 16 July to 20 August in the beautiful churches of our region, the perfect setting for the acoustics of a Baroque orchestra (info: www.orchestrazebo.com)! Finally, this year will see the return of the 12th edition of Un Paese a Sei Corde (A Six-String Country) – a contemporary music festival for acoustic and classical guitar (from 16 June to 9 September), the 12th Festival Organistico Internazionale “Sonata Organi” (‘Organ Sonata’ International Organ Festival) at the Collegiata Santa Maria in Arona, at 21.15 with free admission (Saturday 10 and 17 June and Saturday 1 and 8 July), Amenoblues in the hills of Lake Orta (13th edition) from 2 to 22 July, the 21st Ossola Guitar Festival (15 concerts with free admission from 13 July to 6 August), Tones on the Stones (from 15 to 23 July) and its art in the historic cave (with Mozart’s Requiem, Leonardo Carrano’s Aeterna, Piano Twelve, aerial dance, digital arts and electronic music with Nextones, Elio Germano, Teho Teardo and much more) and the Jazz Festival (Villa Nigra, 5-6-7 August). Meanwhile, Orta San Giulio will host the “Festival Cusiano di Musica Antica” (Cusiano Early Music Festival) “Orta Festival” (July), the “Concerti di Mezzogiorno” (Concerts at Noon, August) and the “Settembre Musicale di San Giulio” (San Giulio’s Musical September).

Cultural and literary events:

The prestigious “Lakescapes – Teatro diffuso del lago” (Lakescapes – Popular Lake Theatre) theatre festival returns for the third year running: 18 events in 6 towns from February to December! This is all thanks to the collaboration of the municipalities of Baveno, Castelletto Sopra , , Lesa, and Stresa, together with the “Accademia dei Folli” (Fools Academy) music-theatre company. Following the great success of the 2016 season, which attracted over 2,000 spectators, the lake and surrounding land are once again the natural stage for shows, concerts, white nights and wonderful traveling “fools”, with a calendar of events that ranges from music to theatre to wine and food (info: www.accademiadeifolli.com).

La Fabbrica di Carta (The Paper Factory), scheduled from 20 April to 1 May 2017 at the La Fabbrica Cultural Centre in , celebrates its first twenty years with “Obiettivo Libri” (Book Lens), an edition dedicated to the power of images and photography. The Salone del Libro (Book Fair) run by the authors and editors of Verbano Cusio Ossola – one of the most successful cultural events in the course of the whole season – represents a fundamental reference point in local culture (info: www.facebook.com/fabbricadicarta).

The Festival Lago Maggiore LetterAltura (Lake Maggiore LetterAltura Festival) makes its inevitable return this summer. As usual, the festival will take place over 4 days: the opening show on Thursday, literary and scientific meetings with authors, photographic and film screenings, children’s events and workshops for adults on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The underlying themes will be mountains, traveling and adventure, with an eye to current events. Everything will take place in the historic centre of Verbania Intra, in the squares, in the library park and in the rooms of the Il Maggiore theatre. (info: www.letteraltura.it).

The 7th edition of “Il Teatro sull'Acqua” (The Theatre on the Water) will be held from 6 to 10 September. As in previous years, the water in front of the Old Port in Arona will provide a natural stage for the event’s main show, which once again will feature the artistic direction of the Italian writer and playwright Dacia Maraini. This year will also see the return of the “Guided theatre tours” "along the streets of Arona and a new “Theatre à la carte”, written and tailored for bars and restaurants. There will be a Street Theatre every day with repeats in the morning, afternoon and evening. In addition to this, there will be meetings with the authors and many other surprises! (info: www.teatrosullacqua.it).

Finally, there will be projects devoted to new performing arts (circus, street arts, installations, interactive performances, art videos and music): “Cross” and "Villaggio d'Artista" (Artist’s Village) are the new destinations for people who love contemporary art. From 23 June to 2 July, Verbania and Cannobio will host a unique collective artistic experience. The final of the international CROSSaward will be held on 1 July, reserved for artists’ first work in the field of performing arts (info: www.crossaward.com).

Between spring and autumn, there will also be many events dedicated to food and wine, folklore and traditions, particularly those related to the Ossola mountains.

The many scheduled events include: “Natura in Festa” (Nature Festival, 30 April) in Castello, an unmissable gastronomic tour on 1 May in with “La vita tra Leponti e Walser” (Life between Leponti and Walser, preceded by the Celtic festival on 30 April), the 13th “Terre d’Agogna” medieval re-enactment in (from 9 to 11 June), the 31st Fiera di San Bernardo and the 17th Concorso Estemporaneo di Scultura in legno (Extemporaneous Wood Sculpture Competition) in Macugnaga (7-8-9 July), “Sapori di Lago” (Lake Flavours) in Baveno (25-26-27 August and 1-2-3 September) and the “Sagra della Patata” (Potato Festival) in (25-26-27-28 August). From 1 to 4 September, the 36th Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino (International Meeting of Chimney Sweeps), one of Piedmont’s historical events, will take place in Valle Vigezzo: it is undoubtedly one of the best-known traditional celebrations in northern Italy, a real tribute to Valle Vigezzo, the birthplace of the chimney sweep profession. This year, they will once again come from the Apennines to the Alps, from Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, England, Scotland, USA, Japan and many other countries. An incredible “black invasion” that has been repeated for decades and attracts 30,000 spectators from all over Italy every year. The formula of the event, which has been very successful over the years, remains the same: it starts on Friday 1 September with a series of historic and folkloristic events in Valle Vigezzo, ending with a great parade on Sunday 3 September in the historic centre of Santa Maria Maggiore. Monday 4 September will be a day dedicated to the promotion of the local area. Hundreds of chimney sweeps will visit a resort town, which is still top-secret, in Alto Piemonte, so that they can return to their countries of origin with a wonderful new memory of this land nestled between lakes and mountains (info: www.santamariamaggiore.info). There are many other festivals scheduled, including the “Sagra del Mirtillo” (Blueberry Festival) in (the first weekend of September), the 92nd “Festa dell’Uva” (Grape Festival) in (7-11 September), the 33rd “Sagra del Fungo” (Mushroom Festival) in Trontano (15-16-17 September), “Sapori in Festa” (24 September) in , the “Sagra del Cinghiale” (Wild Boar Festival) in Migiandone (1 October) and the “Mostra Pomologica” (Pomological Show) in Villadossola (scheduled for 15 October: as well as the traditional show of old apple varieties from northern Italy and our region, there will also be some varieties of beans and corn from Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta). Meanwhile, boasts the “Sagra della Fragola” (Strawberry Festival) on 3 and 4 June and the 12th edition of the “Sagra della Transumanza” (Transhumance Festival, 22 October) and the “Sagra della Zucca” (Pumpkin Festival) in Omegna (28 and 29 October). Ornavasso will host the 8th edition of “Il Parco e la Grotta di Babbo Natale” (Santa’s Park and Grotto): a wonderful Christmas trip into the ancient quarry that supplied Milan cathedral – 200 metres below ground – and 20,000 square metres of parkland, with the procession of Santa Claus and the Twergi, the Walser mountain gnomes of Ornavasso. There will also be a 600 sq m nativity scene, hundreds of shows, musicals, a covered Christmas market, the Paese dei Balocchi (Toyland), the Fabbrica dei Giocattoli (Toy Factory), restaurants and refreshment areas. Eight Reindeer Express trains connect the town centre to the park and there are many covered and heated areas. Opening dates: 18-19-25-26 November, 1-2-3-6-7-8-6-10-16-17-23-24-26-27-28 December (info and bookings: www.grottadibabbonatale.it).

2017 ALSO PROMISES TO BE AN INNOVATIVE, EXCITING YEAR FOR SCHEDULED SPORTS COMPETITIONS:

Starting with the adrenaline-filled VCO Top Race circuit, 13 races that cover around 800 km of our region from April to October, namely: Ossola Trail (Mergozzo, 9 April), Orna Trail (Ornavasso, 22 April), Trail del Motty (, 7 May), Maratona della Valle Intrasca (Verbania Intra, 4 June), Gran Bücc Race (, 18 June), Stràgrandamonterosa (Valle Anzasca, 25 June), Mozzafiato Sky Race (Cannobio, 9 July), Bettelmat Ultra Trail ( and Valle Antogorio, various competitions between 15 and 16 July, info: www.bettelmattultratrail.it), Val Brevettola Race (, 23 July), Rampigada (San Domenico, 20 August), the International Veia Sky Race (Val Bognanco, 27 August), Lago Maggiore Zip Line Trail (Alpe Segletta di , 17 September), and Ultra Trail Lago d’Orta (Omegna, 21 and 22 October). (All the info: www.vcotoprace.it).

The “Rosa Ski Raid 2017”, the ski mountaineering race below the most beautiful face of Monte Rosa, is scheduled for Saturday 15 April in Macugnaga (info: www.rosaskiraid.it).

The 7th "Lake Maggiore Marathon", which boasts the most scenic route in Italy, will be held on Sunday 5 November. Alongside the classic 42 km race – which will unite Verbania and Stresa via a highly scenic, fast and fluid route, which is especially suited for runners aiming to make personal records –, there will also be 33 km, 21 km and 10 km races. All four of these routes can be run both competitively and non-competitively, allowing all types of runners with different levels of experience to participate. (Info: www.LMHM.it). LIKE EVERY YEAR, THERE WILL BE ENDLESS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES OFFERED BY THE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE AND NUMEROUS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES: LAKE CRUISES AND TRAIN TOURS ON BOARD THE “TRENINO DELLE CENTOVALLI”.

The Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway is becoming increasingly popular among international visitors and tourists. The panoramic line, which runs through the wonderful landscapes of Val Vigezzo and Centovalli, welcomes around 1.5 m passengers from all over the world on board its trains every year. In 2015, Tripadvisor awarded the railway a Certificate of Excellence. The first major development of 2017, which has been in the pipeline for years, will appear in the summer: the www.vigezzinacentovalli.com site, which was completely redesigned in 2016, will be further enhanced with an online ticketing system. The “Treno del foliage” (Foliage train) and “Treno del gusto” (Flavor train) will also run this year: last season, during winter and autumn – seasons whose touristic value has still not been fully exploited – these trains allowed thousands of passengers to discover the panoramic line. The “Vigezzina no limits” free movement tickets will be available again and the new agreements with Lido and Falconry will be in place. “Special trains” for major events (the International Meeting of Chimney Sweeps and the Santa Maria Maggiore and Christmas Markets) complete the calendar of events. The “Lago Maggiore Express”, the boat and train package trip that passes through the lakes and valleys, confirms its growing appeal every year, welcoming almost 50,000 passengers on board transport run by Navigazione Lago Maggiore, Trenitalia and Vigezzina-Centovalli. 2017 will also mark the start of new international partnerships with the SSIF for the Italian route and FART SA for the Swiss route, with the Swiss company BLS (Bern-Lötschberg- Simplon) AG, which has managed the railway route between Briga (in the canton of Valais) and Domodossola, which is also one of the two terminals of the Vigezzina- Centovalli line: this will enable the promotion and sale of integrated transport deals from Bern and from Valais to Domodossola and onwards to the canton of Ticino, reaching the Swiss terminus in the Centovalli, Locarno (info: www.vigezzina centovalli .com).

In addition, you can enjoy: water sports, golf courses and spa resorts set in a beautiful landscape and scenic walks for people of all ages around the lakes or to discover the most beautiful valleys. For more adventurous people, there is the unmissable opportunity of experiencing moments of pure enjoyment in contact with nature: on the shores of Lake Maggiore, do not miss out on the Aquadventure Park in Baveno, which offers 360 days/year of fun, sport, wellness and relaxation… even when it is raining! (info and updates: www.lagomaggioreadventure.com). One notable new initiative is “Lago Maggiore Fun”, which aims to promote the best enter- tainment for young people and families in the area. With its five attractions, from Alto No- varese to the canton of Ticino, Lago Maggiore Fun offers various entertainment, suitable for all ages, allowing young people to spend a holiday in Lake Maggiore, whether it be long or short, in the most enjoyable way possible: starting with the Safari Park in (NO), which comprises an animal safari park and amusement park featuring live shows and demonstrations. Next there is Alpyland, the bobsleigh run on rails on top of Mottarone, above Stresa (VB). Those who want to experience flying 350 metres above the ground can do so on the Lago Maggiore Zipline in Aurano (VB), an 1,850-metre long steel cable on which you can fly at over 120 km/h for a minute and a half of pure fun. At the Locarno Fal- conry in the canton of Ticino, you can closely observe and photograph eagles, hawks, owls and vultures as well as watching shows in a natural environment that respects the an- imals. Finally, you can have fun and relax at the Locarno Lido with its lakeside beach, vari- ous indoor and outdoor pools, thermal-style pool, four water slides, diving pool with plat- forms from 1 metre to 10 metres and much more. And more amusements will be added in 2017! (info, updates and promotions: www.lagomaggiorefun.com).

NOT TO MENTION OUR THERMAL SPAS IN BOGNANCO AND ! ENTERTAINMENT, RELAXATION AND TREATMENTS FOR ALL AGES IN AN ARCHITECTURAL CONEXT THAT RESPECTS THE ENVIRONMENTAL BEAUTIES IN THE AREA THAT SURROUNDS THEM!

Bognanco and its thermal baths boast over 150 years of history. They are located in a corner of Piedmont that borders Switzerland, in a green valley full of waterfalls and streams. The qualities that made them renowned throughout Italy, Europe and America have remained unchanged up to the present day: between now and 1963, the thermal baths have attracted over 20 million visitors, 10 million of whom benefitted from mineral water treatments. Mineral water treatments will start in June and end in mid-September 2017 and the opening hours of the park and thermal springs pavilion will be from 8.30 to 18.00, including public holidays. Visitors can enjoy the new Òniro wellness centre with its thermal pool containing 33° water, a small spa that includes a Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, relaxation area and herbal tea area. The opening hours of the wellness centre are as follows: every day, except Tuesday, from 10.00 to 18.00, with extended opening until 22.00 on Friday. There is a 10% discount on any treatment for people staying in hotels in Bognanco (info: www.bognanco.it/terme-centro-benessere).

The Premia thermal baths (Valle Antigorio) comprises a modern building with indoor and outdoor thermal pools, whose temperature range from 32° to 36°. The complex is designed for the enjoyment and relaxation of the whole family, featuring hydromassage beds, neck jets, vascular treatment and a children’s area. There is also a wellness programme that includes various types of saunas and Turkish baths for total relaxation. The waters of the Premia springs have a temperature of 44° and are classified as hyperthermal – calcium sulphate. They are rich in trace elements that allow you to undergo thermal treatments in agreement with the National Health System or for a fee. Do not miss the “Benessere Sotto le Stelle” (Wellness Under the Stars) evenings, which end at midnight: the next event is on 3 June, at which you can discover the magic of thermal water under a starry sky! (info: www.premiaterme.com)

Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta and Lake Mergozzo, surrounded by the splendid Ossola Valleys, await you for a holiday that offers everything you could wish for: relax and stay at one of our region’s 840 hotels, take advantage of the endless recreational activities, enjoy local culture and outstanding food and wine specialities, attend the many evenings organized in our most famous destinations, which provide the stage for great events and unforgettable moments!

With over 3.5 million overnight stays per year, over 70% of which are accounted for by foreigners, the Distretto Turistico dei Laghi area – located at the centre of a region with a high population density that encompasses Switzerland, Varese, Milan and – is one of the most important destinations in northern Italy! WE AWAIT YOU! ______

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