Holiday Homes at Lake Orta

Tell me about... day trips

The following places (more than 10 miles, 16km) make great day trips from Lake Orta:

· Villa Taranto at Verbania. A world-famous attraction on Lake Maggiore, where the visitor may stroll for hours admiring this extensive garden full of thousands of rare and beautiful plants and trees. Web site www.villataranto.it

· Val Vigezzo. A wonderful day trip is possible by taking the single line train from Orta-Miasino to Domodossola, and then changing to the narrow gauge railway up via a mountain valley to Santa Maria Maggiore or Re (noted for its Sanctuary). The trip along the side of Lake Orta is beautiful; the trip on the hairpins (yes!) viaducts and tunnels of the narrow gauge railway in the Val Vigezzo is breathtaking. Winter or summer, take the small cable cars up to the ski-lifts, to walk or ski - see web site www.valle-vigezzo.it for details

· Val Cannobina. If you choose to visit the Val Vigezzo by car, make a round trip by returning through this spectacular gorge and then along Lake Maggiore.

· Macugnaga. Summer or winter, we recommend a trip to this skiing resort at the foot of Monte Rosa, for the walking, the mountain air, or just to see the mountain villages on the way! You can take two cable cars right up to 2900 metres for a spectacular view!

· Safari Park at Pombia, near Arona. Drive-through safari park with white lions, tigers, buffalos, baboons, a variety of rides, several restaurants, and much more. Open March through October, 10am to 7pm, with staying open to midnight on Saturdays in late July and August. Web site www.safaripark.it

· Alpine Botanical Garden above Stresa. Visit these unique gardens with superb views of Lake Maggiore. Web site www.giardinoalpinia.it

· The Mole Antonelliana, Turin Milan and Turin. Why not drive or take the train into one of these cities? The sights in Milan are well-known (note that if you want to see Leonardo's Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie, you must book in advance on www.cenacolovinciano.org - book early as only very limited numbers of visitors are allowed). Turin has the reputational of an industrial town, but its well preserved baroque centre is testimony to it having been the first capital of Italy, and the faded charm hides loads of museums and is well worth a visit too.

· Getting about by train. The nearest station is Orta-Miasino, from where you can reach all over Italy. The Italian railway network is online (including a seat reservation service) at www.trenitalia.it You may also find the Malpensa Express (www.malpensaexpress.it) useful, for example if you drive to and park at Malpensa airport, you can take a train directly to Piazza Cadorna in the centre of Milan.

· Using local buses. Some local bus services are listed on www.comazzibus.com