Ori Villa Oriana

The area of the Borromean Gulf is bounded by part of Lake Maggiore which extends from Stresa to Verbania and includes, in addition to the beautiful Borromean Islands, the hilly area also close to Verbania.
The beauty of the area lies in the perfect marriage between art and nature. The human hand has known how to build over the centuries cleverly adapting the forms of nature on the lake and its shores.
The towns of Stresa and Baveno are characterized by elegance and luxury bestowed by the majestic villas that are located along this stretch of the shore. An refined and romantic atmosphere characterizes these real "pearls"of Lake Maggiore, that attract thousands of tourists from all over the world each year. In the heart of the Gulf, the three Borromean Islands, accessible by means of the Navigazione Lago Maggiore or by private motorboats, create a picturesque setting with timeless charm.
In Stresa, in addition to visiting the beautiful park of Villa Pallavicini, one can take the cable car and reach the summit of Mottarone or the Alpine Garden.
The provincial capital, Verbania is nearby, a bustling tourist center, known for its nineteenth-century villas like the Villa S. Remigio, the Villa Giulia and the Villa Taranto, whose gardens are among the most famous and popular in Europe thanks to the beautiful floral scenes that characterize them.
Going up the hills surrounding Verbania, one will discover dozens of small villages with the typical features of the mountain villages overlooking the Borromean Gulf and its islands.
The National Park of Val Grande starts in these hills: it is the largest area of wilderness in the Alps with the Museum of Water "Acquamondo" in Cossogno and the Casa del Parco in Cicogna.
The characteristic Lake of Mergozzo and the and white marble quarries of Candoglia are near at hand.
In less than half an hour’s drive (or by boat from Omegna) one can reach the enchanting Lake Orta, with the island of Saint Giulio.
For mountain lovers, nature trails are at Alpe Devero, Alpe Veglia, Valgrande and Val Formazza with the impressive waterfalls of the Toce. There are skiing facilities at Mottarone, Domobianca, Macugnaga, etc.
And for those seeking a relaxing holiday at Premia in the Valle Antigorio, one will find the spa and the wellness area.
Baveno is a town rich in history, tradition and culture with numerous archaeological, artistic and architectural testimonies. From the findings of the Neolithic age at Feriolo, an important and flourishing commercial port linking Ossola and territories beyond the Alps to the capitals of Lombardy and maritime centers of Venice and Genoa; the signs of the Roman period documented by the gravestones and the finds found in the necropolis with domestic and funerary furnishings, weapons, bronze and gold coins and to the Romanesque architecture in the beautiful cloisters of the Church of the Saints Gervasio and Protasio built around the XI century and renovated in the eighteenth century, displaying only the facade of the original structure, including a remarkable fresco of Saint Christopher, and the Romanesque bell tower.
Instead, the Baptistery is a building dating from the Renaissance period, an octagonal shape, with a frescoed dome from the sixteenth century.