Mottarone and a Belle Époque evening

At 1,491 m, Mottarone stands between Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta, a natural balcony with Monte Rosa closing the skyline. The drive up from Stresa winds past Alpino and Gignese—famed for umbrella makers and a small Museo dell’Ombrello 9 km away. On clear days you can count seven lakes from the crest and spot the Borromean Islands like pins on a map. After 1906, Art Nouveau shaped the lungolago: floral friezes, bow windows, and glass canopies that glow at dusk.

With a dedicated driver in Lake Maggiore, your day stays fluid: hotel pickup in Stresa, an unhurried ascent to Mottarone while transfers and photo stops are handled, then a sunset aperitivo at Hotel La Palma’s Sky Bar. The vehicle remains at your disposal—dinner booked at Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées or Regina Palace, drop-off at the very entrance, standby during the meal, and an unhurried ride back when you’re ready.