THE ITINERARY IS ACCESSIBLE FOR TOURISTS WITH SPECIFIC NEEDS (Project "FOR ALL Tourism for All All Tourists")
Minimum duration: 1/2 day
Difficulty of the route: medium
Length of the route in km: 0.7 km
ISOLA SUPERIORE DEI PESCATORI
LOCATION DESCRIPTION
Isola Superiore (or Fishermen's Island) is the only one of the Borromean Islands to be inhabited all year round, and is home to a small village of fifty inhabitants characterised by a small square enclosed by narrow, winding alleys leading to the promenade on the northern tip of the island. Characteristic are the multi-storey houses built to make the most of the limited space available: almost all of them have long balconies, which are essential for drying fish.
INFORMATION
HOW TO GET THERE
Isola Superiore dei Pescatori cannot be reached by car.
In order to land on the island, you can take advantage of the boat service of Navigazione Lago Maggiore - www.navigazionelaghi.it - departing from the landing stages of:
- Stresa - Piazza G. Marconi;
- Baveno - Piazza Marinai d'Italia;
- Verbania - Intra P.le Flaim;
- Verbania - Pallanza Viale delle Magnolie 2.
The ticket office and landing areas (with adjoining access bridges to the boat) are easily accessible, thanks to a regular pavement and the overcoming of differences in level, which always takes place by means of ramps with a gradient of >8% (including removable boat ramps that are promptly positioned by the staff).
The newer vessels are fully accessible and equipped with adequate services, while for the older ones, solutions are already being studied and are being implemented to ensure a better travel experience for passengers in wheelchairs.
For information on accessibility, costs, reduced fares and timetables please visit the Navigazione Laghi website - https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/assistenza-disabili
tel. 0322 233200 - infomaggiore@navigazionelaghi.it We recommend contacting Navigazione at least a few hours before departure.
MUNICIPAL POLICE:
Telephones +39 0323.932994 LP Command +39 0323.934593 LP Commander
Mobile: +39 320.9242473 Emergency Contact
Email: polizialocale@comune.stresa.vb.it
TOURIST OFFICE:
Piazza Marconi, 16 Stresa - Tel. +39 0323 30150 – +39 0323 31308
E-mail: info@stresaturismo.it Sito: www.stresaturismo.it
ACCESSIBLE MUNICIPAL TOILETS
In front of the Bar/Ristorante Italia on Isola Pescatori;
Next to the tourist office in Stresa
WHAT TO SEE
The Isola dei Pescatori is 100 metres wide by 350 metres long, it houses a small village with a small square, characteristic narrow alleys, the lakefront and the main street, which allow you to get around strictly on foot. When you arrive on the island, you find yourself on a narrow strip of land that has been inhabited for at least 700 years, where you can walk along the tree-lined belvedere on Via Lungo Lago, which connects the beaches at both ends of the island and allows you to enjoy the large green area of the municipal park on the north side. The entire route along Via Lungo Lago has various differences in level, with gradients between 6 and 8 %, and mixed paving with sections of gravel and beaten earth from which several concrete piers branch off, accessed by ramps with gradients of >8 %. The stretch of road leading to the coastal area to the south of the island is paved with regular-shaped stone slabs and cobblestones with upward concavity, and has a variable gradient of up to about 18%.
We continue our tour of the island along the main street, Via Ugo Ara, which is lined with numerous bars and restaurants and the church of San Vittore, which has an entrance step that is 3 cm high on the outside and 12 cm high on the inside. Parallel to Via Ugo Ara, there is the eastern coastal area which is not accessible due to the presence of disused stairs and accesses.
The northern coast of the island, adjacent to the tree-lined green area bordered by a stone kerb, has slopes varying between 6% and 8% and irregular, uneven paving in beaten earth and gravel. There are seats with fixed benches without backrests. The access to the north coast has a surmountable step with a 12 m ramp with a slope of 11% very uneven with gravel, sand and irregularly shaped stone slabs.
The south-facing coastal area is accessible from Via Lungo Lago after a long stretch of mixed paving with stone cobbles with upward concavity slabs and a slope of 18%.
OVERALL ACCESSIBILITY DESCRIPTION:
The island is accessible for people with reduced mobility. For people using a manual wheelchair, the presence of an accompanying person is recommended, as there are some sections with gradients of more than 8%; the route also has some cobblestones and pedestrian crossings made of stone slabs that are not always uniform. The itinerary is easy to follow in the first part (access to the boat and walk along the lake on the island), while on the inside the route requires the presence of an accompanying person.
ALPINIA GARDEN
Minimum duration: 1 hour
Difficulty of the route: Low
LOCATION DESCRIPTION
The Alpinia Botanical Garden is situated in Alpino, a hamlet of of the municipality of Stresa, at an altitude of 800 metres and overlooks Lake Maggiore, from which you can admire a breathtaking panorama. A natural balcony where you can relax and enjoy the scenery while being in close contact with nature. This garden offers more than 700 different species of plants, most of them alpine. The symbol of Alpinia is the Gentian, an alpine flower with a characteristic purplish-blue colour, a rare and beautiful small bell-shaped flower.
INFORMATION
HOW TO GET THERE
By car it is 20 minutes from the Stresa pier in Piazza Marconi (11 km). Follow the road signs that lead to Gignese. Once in Gignese, turn left at the traffic light and go towards Alpino, follow the entire road paying attention to the arrows indicating the botanical garden until reaching Giardino Alpinia. Those with mobility problems can ask the reception desk to park their car in the garden.
ACCESSIBLE MUNICIPAL TOILETS
There are accessible toilets inside the park.
CONTACTS
Viale Mottino, 26 Alpino di Stresa - Tel: +39 0323 927173 - +39 3883806804
email: giardinoalpiniastresa@gmail.com
WHAT TO SEE
This beautiful balcony has a belvedere hut, where you can sit and rest on the comfortable benches while enjoying the enchanting and unique view of Lake Maggiore. The garden is circular and all the paths are paved with stone slabs, not perfectly smooth, some areas have significant differences in height while others are flat. The presence of an accompanying person is recommended.
OVERALL ACCESSIBILITY DESCRIPTION:
At the Alpinia garden there are some ascents/descents that again require accompaniment. The viewpoint is easily accessible.
Path maker: Fabrizio Marta - Rotex
Author of texts: Fabrizio Marta - Rotex
