HOLIDAY HOMES AT CALLA · ORCHIDEA · ISOLA · CIELO SU TERRA

Holiday Homes at Lake Orta beautiful holiday homes at ’s most enchanting lake 47 Hornsey Lane Gardens, Highgate, London N6 5NY, United Kingdom Telephone: +44-20-8340 0009 Mobile: +44-7791-274.967 Email: [email protected] www.LakeOrta.com

Location Pack for Calla · Orchidea Isola · Cielo su Terra

1 Arrival and Key Location Your arrival should be after 3pm . Park in the parking areas above the village (further details below under ‘Parking’). . From there, proceed on foot into the village (there is more than one way of doing this, follow the signs to the ‘centro’). Perhaps the easiest way (and only way to avoid all steps), is to continue on the level on the road (Via Fontana), then, opposite the San Paolo Bank, bear off down the slope on your right. To return the same way, take the street next to the Olina restaurant. The keys should be collected from the shop Beggi Souvenirs in the main square of (address: 25 Piazza Motta, located in the middle of the long side, facing the lake). Alex Beggi (speaks English) runs the shop, ask for Philippa or Max Beggi (Alex’s parents)

Hiring a car? for your keys. driving drivinglicence!! licence!! driving drivinglicence!! licence!! Don’t Don’t yourforget Normal shop hours are: Summer : 0900 to 2130 Winter : 1000 to 1230 and 1430 to 1730

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If you plan to arrive outside these shop hours, you must advise William beforehand. In any event please plan your arrival to be before 2130. If we have to wait up for you after midnight, we reserve the right to make a charge of £25 (€30) for each hour or part of an hour after midnight up to your arrival time. You will be accompanied to your apartment: • Calla and Orchidea are in Via Bersani • Isola is at Piazza Motta 21 • Cielo su Terra is in Via Giovanetti. Once again, don’t drive into the village , it’s a pedestrian zone, see below under ‘Parking’.

2 Local Contact Your local contact is Max Beggi , who speaks English, mobile 339-8111-740 (dial like that, without the initial zero, from within Italy) +39-339-8111-740 (from the UK) If you have difficulties or are unable to contact Max for any reason, please call: Philippa Beggi 0322-90.366 (mobile 338-461.0665), or William Schwitzer +44-7791-274.967 (UK mobile)

3 Parking Do not attempt to drive through the village, the roads are very narrow, the whole area is a pedestrian zone, there are cameras operating 24x7 at all entry points and you will be fined. Hire car companies usually charge a supplement for handling fines that will almost double it. Note that it will therefore be necessary to carry your luggage approx 200 metres from and to where you have parked (but local taxis familiar with Orta will normally be able to drive you right into Piazza Motta). Covered Pay-on-Exit Parking The covered multi-storey car park (last turning on left) is pay-on-exit so you can park for as long as you want without having to “feed the ticket machines”. The cost is now €10 per day. Outside Parking Areas The car park areas above Orta San Giulio works as follows: • The majority of spaces, marked with blue lines , require a “pay and display” a ticket from one of the machines. Although the cost is fairly low, tickets are still required in the evenings and at weekends. • The free parking spaces in Orta San Giulio ( white lines ) are the first ones you come to on the right as you enter the parking area. There is a limited number of these free spaces. With luck you may get a free space, but they tend to be snapped up within milliseconds of becoming available. There is also a row of free spaces near the Villa Crespi (about 10 minutes walk from the centre of Orta San Giulio). • The yellow lines mark spaces for residents only, you may not use these. It makes sense to comply with the above, the vigili do patrol!

4 Linen and Towels All bed linen and towels (standard size) are provided (but not beach towels, please bring your own if required). We can supply a cot on request at €30 per week, but we do not provide any linen for cots.

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5 Cleaning, breakages and consumables You are expected to leave the apartment reasonably clean, with all items in the kitchen washed and put away, and inventory / furniture in the same place as when you arrived. No usual cleaning charge is made, but if extra cleaning is needed after your stay, the cost will be subtracted from your deposit. Please report any items that you find missing, damaged or broken, and any lack of cleanliness, to Philippa, as soon as possible after arrival. You should also report any damage or breakages that occur during your stay (to Philippa please) when they happen. Wherever possible, please replace damaged or broken items. Groups renting more than one apartment should ensure that all inventory items are returned to the apartment where they belong, otherwise there is a risk that any items we can’t find will be treated as lost. We make sure on your arrival there is: toilet paper, soap, kitchen paper towels, and tea towels. Other items like washing up liquid, washing powder, cleaning fluids, cloths, sponges you may find on your arrival but are not guaranteed . Please replace supplies of consumables that you use whever possible, for example if you find a consumable item there on arrival and then use it up, it will be appreciated if you replace it with a new packet/bottle. Similarly we try and make sure salt and pepper are there for your arrival. Non guaranteed items that you may find include: tea, coffee, vinegar, olive oil.

6 Transport You may find the Trenino di Orta (little train, which runs on the road) useful and good fun. The trains run between the parking area, the Sacromonte, and Legro (Orta-Miasinio station) (the Trenino no longer comes into Piazza Motta). From May through September the trains run everyday between 0900 and 1900. In March, April and October they run everyday but only from 0900 to 1730. From November through February they run only at weekends and public holidays from 0930 to 1730. On Wednesdays the trains make longer trips of about 3 hours to: (0930 departure) , Coiromonte, and ; and (1400 departure) Vacciago, Lortallo, Monte Mesma, Armeno, Miasino and Carcegna. More details on http://www.treninodiorta.it . For a taxi, call one of: • Rita and Paolo Bacchetta - home 0322-259.749, mobile 338-935.4682, Rita speaks excellent English. Competitive rates, airport transfers, local rides, minibus available. Mention my name (“William”). • Marcello Garau , mobile 346-211.1587. Marcello is one of the boatmen in Orta San Giulio. Competitive rates, airport transfers, groups, local needs. Mention me (“William”). • Orta Shuttle 0322-905814, web www.orta.net/shuttle Typical fares are: Arona €50; €70; Malpensa Airport €95; Milan City Centre €160; Milan Linate Airport €190; Milan Bergamo Airport €250. A shared taxi service operates between Orta-Miasino station and Orta San Giulio, cost €10 per person. Some trains are met, but better to book on mobile 338-568-1667 or email [email protected] A branch line train (with beautiful views of the lake!) runs between and Domodossola. The nearest station is Orta-Miasino (about half a mile). About six trains a day run in each direction. Ask for a timetable (“orario dei treni”) in any newsagent or visit www.trenitalia.it . Bus (“Pullman”) services depart from Orta San Giulio, from the piazza reached through the archway on the left, half way up the Motta (the steps up from the main square). The timetable is online at www.comazzibus.com

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A bus runs between Malpensa airport and Novara (from where you can take the train), timetable at http://www.stnnet.it/novaramalpensa.html , cost €7. 7 Shops Cash Machines There are two cash machines in the village. One in Piazza Ragazzoni (the ‘other’ smaller square ), the other in Via Fontana (walk up the cobbled steps from the main square, after 30 metres turn left under the arch, pass through Piazza Prarondo and continue into Via Fontana; the San Paolo bank is on the right). Local Shops Orta Market (Piazza Motta 17, under the arches, facing the lake) has food and some househeld goods (washing up liquid, loo paper etc). There is a greengrocers tucked away in Via Bersani. You will have no difficulty in finding many other shops in Orta San Giulio, There are also several speciality food and wine shops, gift items, jewellers, porcelain, lace, art galleries, antiquarian books and prints, stationers for cards prints and maps, and estate agents. Supermarkets There’s a new Conad at (turn left at the roundabout, you can’t miss it after about 3km on the main lake side road on the left as you come in to Pettenasco). There are several supermarkets on the main road (SR229) between Gozzano and , the closest is IperDi , then Ipercoop , Carrefour , and the furthest is Esselunga . The first three are on the right as you drive from Lake Orta, Esselunga is on the left. All have excellent delicatessen, pasta and meat counters, a full range of drinks (usually cheaper than duty-free at the airport!), plus clothes and other goods. Their hours are: Conad IperDi Ipercoop Carrefour Esselunga location Pettenasco Gozzano Briga N Borgomanero Borgomanero Monday Tuesday 0830-1300 0800-2100 Wednesday and 0800-2100 0800-2100 Thursday 1500-2000 Friday 0830-2000 0800-2200 Saturday 0830-2000 0800-2100 0830-1300 Sunday and 0900-2000 closed 0900-1400 1500-1930

Larger towns such as Gozzano, and Borgomanero have a wide range of shops and other facilities such as banks . Local Markets Many local towns and villages have markets, here are the market days. Day Town and Market Times Monday (0800-1300) Pettenasco (0800-1300) San Maurizio D’Opaglio (0800-1300) Tuesday Arona (0800-1230) Laveno (0900-1200) Wednesday Orta San Giulio (0800-1300) (0900-1700) Gravellona (0800-1300) Thursday Omegna (0800-1300) Somma Lombardo (0800-1300) Borgomanero (0800-1300) Stresa (0800-1300) Friday Pallanza (0800-1200) (0800-1200) Saturday Armeno (0800-1300) Gozzano (0800-1300) Intra (0800-1700)

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Sunday (0900-1300)

The Wednesday morning market (in Piazza Motta ) has antiquarian collectibles, as well as fresh food .

8 Departure Your departure should be by 10am please. We reserve the right to make a charge of £25 (€30) for each hour or part hour for departures after 10am not agreed in advance . Note we are usually unable to offer a later checkout. Very occasionally we may be able to authorise earlier arrival or later departure at the rate of £10 per additional hour .

9 Telephone There is no telephone in the apartment, but mobile phones (GSM) will get good reception. Note that when using your mobile abroad you usually pay for incoming calls too. If you have not used your mobile abroad before, we recommend you obtain rates before departure from your mobile phone company. Dialling Italian phone numbers Italy has a slightly unusual approach to dialling the initial zero of the area code: • keep the initial ‘0’ of an Italian area prefix when dialling from abroad, so e.g. 00+39- 0322-… • dial the full local area code even when calling from within that area code • never dial an initial ‘0’ for italian mobile phone numbers, so e.g. 338-… dialling locally 00+39-338-…from abroad Emergency numbers Hopefully you won’t need them, but here they are: Carabinieri 112 Polizia 113 Vigili del Fuoco (Fire Brigade) 115 Emergenza Sanitaria (Ambulance) 118

10 Wifi Internet (ISOLA only) The apartment has an agreement to use the internet service in the Piccolo Bar below. Network and password details are in the apartment. Best signal is from the bedroom at the front of the apartment.

11 Places to Eat

Restaurant description and location Closed Telephone Restaurants in Orta San Giulio, less than 5 minutes walk (except where indicated) Ristorante Venus, good food, outstanding location, seating right on the lake front in the main 0322 -90.362 square, plus upstairs gallery with lake view. Setting just about compensates for uneven (and sometimes shabby) attitude of the staff. Web site http://www.venusorta.it Piccolo Bar in the middle of the long side of the main square, facing the lake. Pleasant service, excellent value for money.

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Restaurant description and location Closed Telephone Locanda all’Agnello, in Piazza Ragazzoni (the small square). Newly reopened (2012), with 0322 -905.188 restaurant (full dinner menu), wine bar, and a terrace on the top floor for sampling local wines, cheeses and salumi whilst admiring the view of the island . Web site www.locandaorta.it Ristorante San Giulio, on the island . Superb setting. Web site www.ristorantesangiulio.it Tuesday. 0322 -90.234 November. Ristorante Olina , turn right out of the main square along the main street ( via Olina ), and it’s on your 0322 -90.5656 right (opposite the art gallery). Fresh approach, interesting menu, good food. Ristorante Leon d’Oro, to right of main square, faces island. Don’t be put off by grumpy service. 0322 -911.991 Pizzeria La Campana, in Via Giovanetti (south of the main square). Homely, reasonably priced, but no lake view. Villa Crespi , 15 minutes walk from the main square, see below under ‘serious restaurants’. Local restaurants, 5 to 15 minutes drive Ca’ dal Rat (L’Ustaria) . Superb setting, right on lake front (you can arrive by launch from Orta!). Wednesday 0322 -905.120 Great restaurant, makes for an unforgettable evening. On the main lakeside road, at Imolo, 2km in Winter south of the Orta San Giulio roundabout. Look out for the small oval sign. Web site www.lustaria.it Pizzeria Ristorante Berimbao , above Pettenasco. Very modest prices. Great pizzas. Drive along Tuesday 0323 -89.367 the lake to Pettenasco, and turn right in the village (opopsite church) following signs. Pass Pettenasco station and go over the level crossing. About 500 metres from the Orta roundabout (towards Pettenasco), at Bagnera on the left, is Luci 0322 -068.260 sul Lago (new management June 2016, used to be Orta Beach Club). Parking area at the top, walk down the path to the restaurant. Great setting above the lake, good pizzas, informal service. If you turn left at the roundabout outside Orta San Giulio, on the road towards Pettenasco and Tuesday 0322 -911.963 Omegna there is, on the left, the Ristorante Sant’Antonio right on the lake front. Park on the other side of the road, on the right as you come from Orta. Good food, straightforward menus. Under new management May 2018. Da Venanzio . Turn right at the roundabout just before Gozzano, then bear off right to take the road 0322 -096.13 7 on the other side of the lake, and follow signs to Da Venanzio, a quiet trattoria in idyllic location right on the lake front serving good simple food. (This is also an excellent place to explore walking along the lake.) Strongly recommended if you are familiar with Italian food and want something a bit special/different. Web site http://www.ristorantedavenanzio.com Hotel Genzianella, on the Miasino bypass (on the right just past the turning to Pisogno). Friendly Tuesday 0322 -980.051 atmosphere, quite good food. Ristorante Golden Star , at Armeno. On the far side of Armeno (follow signs). Very g ood pizzas. Wednesday 0322 -999.013 There is a trattoria, La Poncetta , on the lake front, on the road from Gozzano to Orta San Giulio Hotel Britain. On the road between Vacciago and Miasino (park in front of the beautiful Santuario della Bocciola), with panoramic view of the lake. Good all round restaurant, reasonable prices, English spoken. Bar/Bistro on floor below. Strongly recommended if Italian food is largely new to you. Serious restaurants for special occasions Ristorante Ai Due Santi , Piazza Motta 18, great location with seating out in the main square of 0322 -90.192 Orta San Giulio , accurate all round restaurant (though not necessarily the cheapest). Web http://www.aiduesanti.com Villa Crespi , the oriental style building with tower by the roundabout outside Orta San Giulio , 15 0322 -911.902 minutes walk from the main square. Top restaurant in a unique building, with accurate, but still friendly and warm, service. Ideal venue for a special occasion, 2 Michelin stars, chef stars in the Italian edition of Gordon Ramsay’s kitchen nightmares. Web http://www.villacrespi.it There’s even a Wikipedia entry on the chef Antonino Cannavaccioluo. In the delightful village of (turn right at Gozzano and follow signs) there is the Al Sorriso Monday & 0322 -983.228 which has Michelin’s top three-sets-of-cutlery rating, the only one for miles around. People make a Tuesday journey to eat there. Go there to eat well, not to save money! Web http://www.alsorriso.com (care: the restaurant has two r’s, the place has just one!) Further afield, the Gufo Nero at has been recommended to us. Web http://www.gufonero.it You will have no difficulty in discovering many other restaurants in the area.

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12 Wine Bar You will have no difficulty finding many cafés and wine bars in Orta San Giulio. A wonderful cosy little wine bar, that you wouldn’t find unless directed to, is Enoteca Al Boeuc (literally “the hole”, in dialect) in Via Bersani 28, Orta San Giulio. Great wines, does also very light meals. Turn right out of your apartment and follow the cobbled street that runs above the main square. The unassuming entrance is on your left (closed Tuesdays).

13 Beaches and water sports Ortello. There is a small public beach between Orta San Giulio and the Villa Crespi (south side of the peninsular). You can either walk along the path along the lake front, or walk along the road, and then right down the steep cobbled road. You can swim from Luci sul Lago (new name June 2016, used to be called Orta Beach Club), 300 metres north of the Orta San Giulio roundabout, with ample parking. Sun beds and umbrellas available for the (paved) “beach”. Good food, snacks right up to smart restaurant. Pedalos and kayaks can be hired. Walkable in 30 minutes from Orta San Giulio (from the roundabout you have to walk along the road). Miami , in the south-east corner of the lake has both a public and a pay beach, and some bars/trattorias. Miami beach has pedalos, canoes, sun-beds and umbrellas for hire, a good bar, and serves snack food (including very reasonably priced pasta and salads dishes), much like you would find in any mediterranean resort! You can claim a 25% discount on the entrance cost, tell Signora Daniela that you are staying with William at Holiday Homes at Lake Orta (please be prepared to provide details of your stay). Web site www.spiaggiamiami.com mobile 349-481.7162 email [email protected] There are small beaches amongst the trees walking north along the lake front from restaurant ‘Da Venanzio’ (see previous section), towards Pella on the other side of the lake, including Lagna beach which has toilets, and a pontoon. Canoeing . You can do canoeing at Miami beach (see above). Sailing . There is a Circolo Velico at Imolo, to the south of Orta San Giulio, on the SR229 about a mile from the roundabout. Windsurfing is available at the Hotel Giardinetto at Pettenasco. Ondaland . A very popular waterpark is within 30 minutes drive, with wave-pool, waterslides, watertubes, plus a section for younger children. Web site www.ondaland.it Get on the A26 motorway at Borgomanero, direction south; at the junction with the A4 - Milan motorway, turn left (east), and take the first exit () , from where Ondaland is signedposted. Safari Park at , near Arona. Drive-through safari park with white lions, tigers, buffalos, baboons, a variety of rides, several restaurants, and much more. Open March through October, 10am to 7pm, with staying open to midnight on Saturdays in late July and August. Web site www.safaripark.it

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14 Cooking Classes Do you love Italian cooking and want to know a bit more? Would you like to know how to prepare some local specialities, and take that skill back home? We have teamed up with a local chef, Silvia Padulazzi , to provide cooking classes in English for 2 to 8 people in her home in Bagnella, Omegna (at the north end of Lake Orta). Silvia offers classes in English, German and French. The hands-on classes are from 5pm to 9pm. You would typically prepare: a four course meal including: antipasti, using local meats and cheeses where possible, or bagna cauda ; fresh pasta, gnocchi, lasagne or risotto according to season and taste; a typical regional main course such as tapulone or brasato ; and a typical Italian or regional dessert such as bonet , margheritine/roselline or tiramisù . A glass of local white and local red wines will be tasted and served. Vegetarian, Vegan, Macrobiotic and Coeliac (Gluten-free) can all be catered for and are very welcome (let Silvia know your needs when booking). No problem if some members of your group or family prefer to just spectate then eat! The cost is just €68 per person for 3 to 6 people (with a minimum of €200 if Silvia can’t make up a group of at least 3 people) which includes all ingredients and consumption of the meal. Silvia’s contact details are: Silvia Padulazzi Via Curotti 74, Frazione Bagnella, 28887 Omegna (VB) (google maps calls the street Rampa San Bernardino) mobiles from outside Italy: +39-348-514-3106 or +39-366-470-7326 mobiles from within Italy: 348-514-3106 or 366-470-7326 email: [email protected] Directions. Drive into the centre of Omegna, keeping in the left lane in the one-way, going straight on into the narrow cobbled street (Via Mazzini). After crossing the outlet river of Lake Orta, bear left along the lake front (Viale Garibaldi). After 100 metres (immediately after the parking area) bear left (signposted “Circolo Bagnellese”) and follow the lake front (Lungolago Gramsci) to Bagnella. After 700 metres the lake front road becomes one way against you, so turn right, then left, into the parallel Via Giovanni Pascoli and continue for a further 400 metres to the roundabout (where the lake front road also starts for your return). Turn hard right into Via Fratelli Rosselli (also the name of the lake front road!!) which becomes Via Fiumetta. After 200 meters you come to a small church with clock on your right. Park in the white-edged area on the left (white markings mean it’s free). Proceed on foot on the road in front of the church (Via Curotti). After 50 metres, just before the road becomes pedestrian only, enter the yellow arch on your left which is Silvia’s house. To make a booking, please email Silvia on [email protected] copying in William at [email protected] stating your preferred day(s), number of people and any other specifics, providing also details of which apartment you are staying in and a contact mobile number.

15 Guided Nature Walks Guided nature walks around local villages are available in summer as detailed below. The licensed hiking guides are Cosetta Dal Cin and Albert Husband who live in Miasino and speak English.

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Cost Cost Walk Cost Under Under Walk When Start Finish Time Adult 16 12 Info Sheet (pdf) 0845 Orta’s Orta San Tourist Info approx 1200 http://www.lakeorta.c Giulio Every Tuesday Point (by coach main square approx €5* €10* om/tma/GuidedNatur (June to August) park, 100 of Orta San 3h15m with under 14 eWalkOrta.pdf Cosetta metres from Giulio roundabout) 0900 Garden of Every 1st and 3rd Miasino Villa Nigra approx 1100 http://www.lakeorta.c Wednesday of the approx (opposite Car returning to €10 €5 free om/tma/GuidedNatur with month (April to 2 hours Park, next to start point eWalkMiasino.pdf Albert October) Petrol Station) 0900 Gardens of Palazzo Tornielli Every 2nd and 4th Ameno (in front of the approx 1200 http://www.lakeorta.c Wednesday of the approx Municipio, NB returning to €12 €6 free om/tma/GuidedNatur with month (April to 3 hours there is a car start point eWalkAmeno.pdf Albert October) park behind the Municipio) *plus return launch ticket €4.50 per person for the tour of Orta San Giulio Cosetta can be contacted at [email protected] or via http://www.ortaeoltre.it Albert can be contacted at [email protected] or mobile +39-348-225.6578. Feel free to provide feedback to William about these guided walks.

16 Bicycle and E-Bike Hire Bicycles can be hired from: ♦ Sport è Bike , run by Massimo Knutti. This is a serious bike shop, at Via Fratelli di Dio 61, Omegna (on the left hand side of the main road that leads out of Omegna towards Gravellona Toce). Phone 339-592.4089 (note new mobile number August 2015). Bikes can be hired for just €15 per day, or €40 per week. ♦ Bike Lago D’Orta . Via Sperati 4, Miasino. Telephone 0322-980.252 Mobile 347- 562.0011. ♦ Multisport Valsesia , Via Mateotti 52, Borgomanero, telephone 0322-841.830 ♦ Luca , mobile 338-986.4839. Luca can deliver/collect. Approx. €18 per day. ♦ Welcome Point in Orta San Giulio, telephone 0322-905.188, email [email protected] (if nobody is there, ask in the Ristorante Olina) (New for 2018) Electric Mountain Bikes can be hired from: ♦ E-Bike Lago d'Orta for €50 per day or €205 for 5 days (2018 prices) . They are based at the roundabout just outside Orta San Giulio. Address: Via Domodossola 9, 28016 Orta San Giulio (NO) Contact: Vittorio mobile +39-348-145.1877. Web site http://www.ebikelagodorta.com

17 Wine The villages of , Ghemme , and produce some of the best red wines in Italy (bearing the same names as the villages) even if very little known outside of Italy. You should have no difficulty in finding some c antine (but - as usual - avoid lunchtimes 12 - 3pm). To get there, from Borgomanero turn west along the Biella Road (SS 142) to and then follow local directions.

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18 Ideas for places to visit Orta San Giulio and the Island of San Giulio . An enchanting village set on the edge of the peninsular which faces the island, with a variety of cafés, pizzerias, trattorias, and restaurants. Walk up above the village to the Sacro Monte (great views!), and visit the series of chapels with statues and frescos depicting episodes in the life of San Francesco d'Assisi. You take a launch out to the island, or board scheduled boat services. The twelfth century Romanesque Basilica on the island has a glass coffin with what's left of Saint Giulio on display, who is supposed to have walked on the lake in his better days. In late June there are evening concerts on the island. See www.ortasangiulio.com for events and links. Boat services on Lake Orta. There are regular boat services connecting Orta San Giulio with Omegna, Pella, and other lakeside towns and villages. See web site http://www.navigazionelagodorta.it for prices and timetable. Fondazione Calderara . A modern art collection in Vacciago, in a house of typical local style. It’s worth pulling into the car park of the beautiful baroque Santuario della Bocciola between Vacciago and Miasino just for the stunning view of the lake, and the 19 th century frescos inside are superb too. Web site www.santuari.it/bocciola has reproductions, story of the miracle, and times of services. . The summit of this mountain may be reached by car (12 miles from Orta San Giulio). It is situated between Lake Orta and , and affords a spectacular view of these two Lakes, five others, and the whole Alpine arc. There is a cable car up from Stresa which runs about every 20 minutes, the timetable is at http://www.stresa-mottarone.it Giardino Alpinia (Alpine Botanical Gardens) above Stresa. Visit these unique gardens with absolutely superb views of Lake Maggiore, only €2.50 entrance. Best in spring and summer. Three ways to get there: (i) turn right just before the summit of the Mottarone, (ii) take the scenic route past Miasino and up the long valley, turn sharp left at , or (iii) get off the Stresa-Mottarone cable car at the halfway stop. Web site www.giardinoalpinia.it Stresa, Lago Maggiore, Isola Bella . Lake Maggiore and Stresa are easily reachable by car or bus for an afternoon or day-trip. There is an 1100 bus (SAF company) departing Orta San Giulio (Piazzale Prarondo) arriving Stresa at 1200, returning 1700 from Stresa (Imbarcadero Nord) arriving back at Orta San Giulio at 1800. Return fare €6. Timetable here: http://www.vcoinbus.it/cagnoli/SAF/e_stresa_orta.pdf The Isola Bella (so named for good reason!) may be reached by small boat from Stresa; it is world famous for the beautiful palace of the Borromeo family, and exotic terraced gardens. The is also well worth a visit (some people prefer it!). A hydrofoil service operates along the length of Lake Maggiore, and car ferries cross it. The web site http://www.illagomaggiore.it has details of forthcoming events around Lake Maggiore. For children, the Villa Pallavicino (on the main road, 2 miles south of Stresa) is a must, with tame animal running free. Great for adults too, there are extensive grounds overlooking Lake Maggiore, it’s easy to spend a whole morning or afternoon here. Web site www.parcozoopallavicino.it Arona (10 miles). Nearby this pleasant town on Lake Maggiore is a giant statue of San Carlo Borromeo which you can climb inside. Villa Taranto at Verbania . Stroll for hours admiring this extensive garden full of thousands of rare and beautiful plants and trees. Val Vigezzo . A wonderful day trip is possible by taking the single line train from Orta- Miasino to Domodossola, and then changing to the narrow gauge railway up via a mountain valley to Santa Maria Maggiore or Re (noted for its Sanctuary) and, if desired, on to (in ). The trip along the side of Lake Orta is beautiful; the trip on the hairpins (yes!) viaducts and tunnels of the narrow gauge railway in the Val Vigezzo is breathtaking. The swiss part of the valley is called ‘Centovalli’. Web site www.centovalli.ch Round trip Stresa/Baveno-Domodossola-Locarno-Stresa/Baveno . Take the train from Stresa (or Baveno) to Domodossola, then take the small train in the Val Vigezzo (as above),

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but go the full distance to Locarno (take passports, this bit is in Switzerland!). You can then return via boat or hydrofoil (‘aliscafo’) the full length of Lake Maggiore, from Locarno to Stresa (or Baveno). Parking is free in Baveno car park (300m from jetty). The hydrofoil is faster, but you don’t see much because of all the spray! Great set tourist lunch on the boat for €15 (book in restaurant as soon as you board the boat). See web site www.lagomaggioreexpress.com for details of the trains, boats, and hydrofoils for this wonderful round trip. Val Cannobina . If you choose to visit the Val Vigezzo by car, make a round trip by returning through this spectacular gorge and then along Lake Maggiore. Macugnaga . Take a trip to this skiing resort at the foot of Monte Rosa, for the walking, the mountain air, or just to see the mountain villages! It’s just 45 miles (73km) from Lake Orta! You can take two cable cars from Staffa (the main village of Macugnaga) up to Monte Moro at 2800 metres for a spectacular view! From Pecetto , the last village at the head of the valley, take two chairlifts to Rifugio Belvedere (1900 metres), with the glaciers coming down from Monte Rosa in front of you! The more adventurous will want to walk on for just under an hour to Rifugio Zamboni (2050 metres) from where the 2.5km parapet of Monte Rosa and about six glaciers are right in front of you! And of course all these refuges do a great lunch! For those with a head for heights, try the Funivie del Lago Maggiore at Laveno Mombello, on the east side of Lake Maggiore. To get there, you can take the car ferry from Intra across Lake Maggiore (which departs half a kilometre north of the Villa Taranto). This cablecar is a series of "buckets" for 2 people, that rise quite rapidly to over 1000 metres, with superb views of Lake Maggiore throughout. More info at www.funiviedellagomaggiore.it (don't be put off by the cartoon on the home page...!). Cascata del Toce Way up the valley beyond Domodossola, in the Val Formazza, is a spectacular waterfall (and dam above it). With 143 metres fall, this is the second highest waterfall in Europe. The water out of the dam is controlled, but is usually in full flow in summer: between 10am and 4pm on Sundays and from 10th to 20 th August; for a 2-hour slot around midday on other days in summer. Check www.valformazza.it/cascata-toce.php for details. The sights in Milan are well-known, the Duomo and nearby Galleria Vittoria Emanuele are a must. The Maio restaurant on the top floor of the nearby Rinascente department store does a great lunch. The Via Montenapoleone is the equivalent of London’s Bond Street (but more so…). To see Leonardo’s Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie, make sure you book tickets in advance on www.cenacolovinciano.org . Take the train from Orta- Miasino, or drive in and pick up the Metro at Lampugnano (download our directions to Lampugnano park-and-ride Metro station at www.lakeorta.com/pdf/dir-lamp.pdf ). Turin is the home of Fiat and other industries, but has a well preserved baroque centre that is testimony to having been the first capital of Italy (see the tombs of Italy's kings at the Superga), and the slightly faded charm hides loads of museums such as the Museo Egiziano (web site www.museoegizio.org), and is well worth a visit. See one of the world's most famous religous relics, the Turin shroud (web site www.shroud.com) which, though now shown to be medieval, still has an amazing effect, or climb up to the Colle della Maddalena for the superb view of the city. Getting about by public transport . The nearest station is Orta-Miasino, from where you can reach all over Italy. The entire Italian railway network is now online (including seat reservations!) at www.trenitalia.it (make sure you type in Orta-Miasino with the hyphen!). For foot directions to Orta-Miasino station see Walks . Timetable for buses, ferries, trains and cable cars in the Lake Maggiore area is online at www.vcoinbus.it There are far more places to visit than there is space here – Quarna, Gignese, Pella, Bellagio, , , the Val Grande, The Simplon Pass, Lake Como, Lake Lugano, Novara, the Langhe, the Ligurian coast….

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19 Health Service and Chemists UK residents are entitled to medical treatment when visiting EU countries including Italy, but you must have a European Health Insurance Card. Apply at http://www.ehic.org.uk/ There is a major hospital (“ ospedale ”) in Borgomanero. English is generally spoken by doctors. Accident & Emergency is “ Pronto Soccorso” in Italian. Out of hours opening times of local chemists are available on http://www.farmaciediturno.org Click on PIEMONTE, then on NOVARA, then on names of local towns such as ORTA SAN GIULIO, ARMENO, BORGOMANERO, or PELLA.

20 Travel Tip We recommend you load your bank/card lost/stolen numbers into your mobile phone contacts (make sure you use numbers that can be dialled from abroad). You never know when you might need them, and speed is usually key to minimise your financial loss, as you are usually liable until the time you phone in. If you bank with a UK big four, lost/stolen numbers from abroad are: Barclays +44-1928-584.421 HSBC +44-1442-422.929 NatWest +44-1268-500.813 Lloyds (debit cards) +44-1702-278.270 Lloyds (credit cards) +44-1733-347.007

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