, 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 , Lake Orta and Lake , three magnificent stretches of water – is ready to welcome Italian and international visitors.

On Sunday 13 March, high season begins in the Parco della Rocca di Arona, an architectural and scenic gem that was the birthplace of San Carlo Borromeo and boasts the enormous “San Carlone” statue devoted to his memory (which stands 35.1 metres tall). The summer schedule starts on 20 March, featuring many new features and events. The Botanical Gardens of Villa Taranto will be open daily, including public holidays, from Wednesday 15 March to Wednesday 1 November, showcasing beautiful flowers and many themed events. The Villa Pallavicino Zoo Park in reopens in mid-March: an area of around 20 hectares containing flowery paths, ancient trees, a beautiful botanical garden and the main attraction, the animals! The Alpine Garden reopens on Saturday 8 April (open up to and including Tuesday 31 October), a 40,000 sq m natural balcony overlooking , where you can relax while admiring the landscape and staying in close contact with nature. There is great anticipation for the opening of the Madre and Bella Borromean Islands on Friday 24 March, which will remain open until 22 October. Among the new developments for 2017 is the completion of the restoration of Sperindio Cagnoli’s magnificent “San Rocco”, the new elevator that will make the Palazzo more accessible to everyone, and the new app in four languages that will help tourists to discover the Isola Bella. As always, the Islands can be reached by the Navigazione Lago Maggiore ferries and by the motorboats of private consortiums, while transport services on Lake Orta are provided by Navigazione Lago d'Orta and by the Consorzio Navigazione Servizio Pubblico di . In the Distretto Turistico dei Laghi, Monti e Valli dell’Ossola area, 2017 will be a year that offers plenty of opportunities to have fun, relax, enjoy local food and wine and participate in major events. The events that have already been confirmed include:

“Gli agrumi di ” (The citrus fruits of Cannero Riviera, 11 to 19 March), the "Mostra della Camelia" (Camellia Exhibition) in Verbania (25-26 March), the Festival di Fuochi d’Artificio (Fireworks Festival) and Vette d’Artificio (Mountain Fireworks) (July and August), the Stresa Festival (from 18 July to 8 September), “Musica in Quota 2017” (Music at High Altitude), the Festival di Musica Barocca “Di Parola in Musica” (The Baroque Music Festival), Un Paese a Sei Corde (A Six-String Country), the 12th Festival Organistico Internazionale “Sonata Organi” (International Organ Festival), Amenoblues, the 21st Ossola Guitar Festival, Tones on the Stones, Jazz Festival, “Lakescapes – Teatro diffuso del lago” (Popular Lake Theatre), La Fabbrica di Carta (The Paper Factory), the Festival Lago Maggiore LetterAltura (Lake Maggiore Mountain Literature Festival), “Il Teatro sull'Acqua” (The Theatre on the Water), “Cross” and "Villaggio d'Artista" (Artist’s Village) (projects dedicated to performing arts), the 36th Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino (International Meeting of Chimney Sweeps) and the 8th edition of “Il Parco e la Grotta di Babbo Natale” (Santa’s Parka and Grotto) in (November- December).

Naturally, food is an essential part of the annual calendar of events. There are numerous festivals organized every year devoted to local food and wine: this year sees the return of “Natura in Festa” (Nature Festival) in Oleggio Castello, the gastronomic tour on the 1 May in Ornavasso with “La vita tra Leponti e Walser” (Life between Leponti and Walser), the 13th medieval re-enactment “Terre d’” in , the 31st Fiera di San Bernardo in , “Sapori di Lago” (Lake Flavours) in , the “Sagra della Patata” (Potato Festival) in , the “Sagra del Mirtillo” (Blueberry Festival) in , the 92nd “Festa dell’Uva” (Grape Festival) in Masera, the 33rd “Sagra del Fungo” (Mushroom Festival) in , “Sapori in Festa” (Flavour Festival) in Oleggio Castello, the “Sagra del Cinghiale” (Wild Boar Festival) in Migiandone, the “Mostra Pomologica” (Pomology Show) in , the “Sagra della Transumanza” (Transhumance Festival) and the “Sagra della Zucca” (Pumpkin Festival) in .

2017 also promises to be an innovative, exciting year for 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 (all the events are listed on www.vcotoprace.it). The “Rosa Ski Raid 2017” is scheduled for Saturday 15 April in Macugnaga, a ski mountaineering race below the most beautiful face of Monte Rosa, while the 7th "Lago Maggiore Marathon", featuring the most scenic route in , will return on Sunday 5 November.

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” or both, on the circuit offered by “Lago Maggiore Express”. And more: water sports, golf courses and scenic walks available to everyone, 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 and the “Lago Maggiore Fun” centres including the Safari Park in Pombia (NO), Alpyland (Mottarone), Lago Maggiore Zipline in (VB) and the Falconeria (Falconry centre) and the Lido di Locarno. Not to mention our thermal spas in Bognanco and ! Entertainment, relaxation and treatments for all ages in an architectural context that respects the environmental beauties in the area that surrounds them!

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! ______

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE AREA, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, FOOD AND WINE, SHOPPING AND MUCH MORE, CONSULT OUR PRESS KIT AT WWW.DISTRETTOLAGHI.IT/MEDIA- ROOM/PRESS-KIT

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DISCOVER LAKE MAGGIORE, LAKE ORTA, LAKE MERGOZZO AND THE OSSOLA VALLEYS ALONG A SELECTION OF ROUTES FOR CYCLING AND MOUNTAIN BIKING THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR EVERYONE! ACTIVE FAMILIES AND TOURISTS WHO LOVE SPORT ARE WELCOME HERE. WWW.DISTRETTOLAGHI.IT/PERCORSI WWW.DISTRETTOLAGHI.IT/EBOOK

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DISCOVER THE NEW “MEDIA ROOM” SECTION AT WWW.DISTRETTOLAGHI.IT/MEDIA-ROOM OUR PRESS KIT, ALL OUR PRESS RELEASES, IMAGE AND VIDEO GALLERIES, UPDATES ON B2B PARTICIPATION, EDUCATIONAL TOURS AND MUCH MORE ARE ALL AT YOUR DISPOSAL! DAILY CONTACT WITH OUR AGENCY AND OUR ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE TOURISTIC PROMOTION OF THE REGION! ______

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