About this tour
Explore Isola Bella's 17th-century baroque palace and manicured gardens, then return to Stresa for wine and charcuterie in a local cellar. This four-hour private tour covers the showpiece island of Lake Maggiore—built by Carlo Borromeo for his wife Isabella—before shifting focus to the lakeside town's quieter quarters. You'll taste regional wines paired with cured meats and local cheeses, getting a feel for what made this corner of Piedmont desirable to nobility centuries ago.
Highlights
- Baroque palace interiors on Isola Bella with period furnishings
- Terraced gardens overlooking Lake Maggiore
- Private taxi-boat crossing from Stresa
- Regional wine tasting with cured meats and cheese
- Stresa's intimate town-centre streets and piazzas
- Borromean family history and 16th-century origins
What to expect
Your guide meets you in Stresa and takes you by private boat across to Isola Bella, where you'll spend time inside the palace rooms and stepping through the sculpted gardens terraced toward the water. The pace is unhurried—you'll absorb the scale and decoration without rushing. Back on the mainland, you'll walk Stresa's quieter lanes before arriving at a family winery. There, the aperitivo unfolds: local wines served with platters of salumi and mountain cheeses, the kind that reveal themselves properly only when tasted where they're made.
Good to know
Wear comfortable shoes for palace stairs and garden paths. The boat crossing is sheltered but can be breezy. Lunch isn't included, so eat beforehand or plan dinner after. The wine tasting replaces a full meal but pairs well with an early dinner.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.