Local Area

There is no bad time to visit Lake Maggiore and Lesa is the perfect base from which to discover this beautiful lake. It is desirably placed between Arona with its multitude of fashion stores and Stresa with its excellent Summer festival and trains to Milan central in under an hour. A car is not needed as you can use public transport (boats, trains and buses) to get out and about. The bus stop is just 100 metres from the apartment. However, if you do want to explore further afield, having a car may be more convenient on occasion. Parking is free, easily accessible and without restrictions just 50 metres from the apartment.

There are 3 beaches in Lesa itself, one of which is a sandy beach (which is unusual for Lake Maggiore) Beach clubs provide loungers and have cafes and bars where you can enjoy lunch. Lesa also has a multitude of excellent restaurants for those who prefer to eat out rather than doing the cooking!nnOther attractions in the area include Armani, Lora Piano, Alessi and Belora factory shops. There are around 30 golf courses around the lake, many of them situated in breathtaking mountain locations with very reasonable green fees. Ziplines, summer toboggans, boats of every conceivable kind and world class summer festivals from classical music in quarries to jazz in palace gardens are all on offer to visitors.

In the Winter, there's local skiing on the hill behind Lesa itself and the world class pistes of Switzerland can be reached in under an hour. Local skiing is easy to access and there are many slopes to choose from! The closest is Mottarone which is about 30 minutes from the apartment and has a nice selection of slopes for a few couple of days skiing. It's the perfect place to learn or get back on the slopes after a break. There are various other ski stations up the lake towards Switzerland e.g. Macugnaga, Dormbianca and San Domenico Ski. Further afield, if you start the day early, the Swiss slopes are at hand with Zermatt reachable in just over 2 hours. On the way back, we highly recommend stopping off at the newly renovated thermal spas.

Further afield you'll find Portofino, the Via Ferata of the Dolomites and even Monaco, Venice and the French Riviera all within a 3.5 hour drive or less. Alternatively, if you're looking for a more relaxed pace on holiday, why not tour the wine trail taking in Ghemme Gattinara in Romagnano Sesia and the famous red of Barolo with its stunning castle.

With many foods in season, Autumn is one of the best times to visit the various Michelin starred restaurants or go truffle hunting! There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance including the popular Il Rapanello fish restaurant as well as a delightful local deli which we can highly recommend and much more besides, all with stunning views over the lake. Or, if you're looking for a more spiritual getaway Unesco have listed many religious sites: visit Sacro Monte di Varallo or the Santuario di Varese.

Property Highlights

• 🗸 Air Conditioning
• 🗸 Free Parking On Street
• 🗸 Internet
• 🗸 Iron
• 🗸 Towels Provided
• 🗸 Washer

Other thing to note

We simply love Apartment Maggiore. For us it ticks all the boxes - contemporary and yet full of character thanks to its age, walking distance to some great restaurants, private outside space (there is nothing better than eating breakfast on the terrace or enjoying an evening drink watching the sun set) and just a stroll away from some superb beaches in one of our favourite parts of the lake.