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Programme
MONDAY
Meeting place at
Regina Palace Hotel in Stresa.
Room assignment.
Welcome aperitif and presentation meeting with distribution of t-shirts
and personalized flasks “Bike Italia Rando” together with the week
information pack.
TUESDAY
LOCARNO and back by boat
Distance: 70 km
(44 miles)
Difficulty: Easy
Today we move north towards Locarno city, in Switzerland.
We visit Baveno, renown in the past for its pink
granite’s quarry, before reaching Verbania, capital of the Province
created in
1939 from the fusion of the two villages Intra e Pallanza.
Pallanza’s feather in the cap is Villa Taranto botanic gardens, located
on the promontory of Castagnola.
The gardens house the villa, today Seat of Prefecture, together with
lanes, splendid gardens, fountains and marvelous waterfalls.
Heading northwards we pass by Ghiffa, famous for the
sanctuary of the Holy Trinity and then arrive to the renown holiday
resort at the foot of Mount Carza: Cannero Riviera.
In Cannero, besides the museum of local traditions, there are the
castles built over two rocky holms.
Carrying on along the panoramic road that follows alongside the lake we
cycle across Cannobbio, the last Italian city on Lake Maggiore’s
bank, housed in the very first part of the Cannobbina Valley.
After a few kilometers we arrive at the Swiss border and once crossed we
are in Switzerland, in Ticino Canton.
Once we have passed the city of Brissago, we arrive in the splendid small city of Ascona
cycling across it to reach the cycle lane that leads to our
destination, Locarno. In the afternoon we take the “Navigation Lake Maggiore” boat to get
back to Stresa.
WEDNESDAY
LAKE ORTA
Distance: 60 km (37,5 miles)
Difficulty: Medium
Today we travel across the road that connects Lake Maggiore to
Lake Orta.
We cycle through the built-up area of Stresa and then start climbing.
Once we have reached the top of the climb we are at the
foot of the Mottarone’s mountain at 1491 mt altitude. It is well know
for some of the routes of the Giro d’Italia.
We then go downhill into the Novara province where we’ll find, just in
front of us, the beautiful Lake d’Orta.
We’ll come across Orta San Giulio located at the northern extremity of
Sacro Monte promontory, which is a special natural reserve. Orta is the most
romantic village of the Lake with its courtyards, arcades and small
squares full of handicrafts and typical local, products shops.
Right in the middle of the Lake, in front of the built-up Orta area are San Giulio Island,
known as The Silence Island because of the
presence of the Benedict monastery Mater Ecclesiae.
Again, we’ll carry on with our trip leading northwards reaching Omegna and then, crossing Feriolo, back to Stresa.
THURSDAY
LAVENO and back by boat
Distance: 75 km (47 miles)
Difficulty: Easy
Today’s tour leads us southwards.
We first encounter Lesa where the Stampa Palace is built that played
host to Alessandro Manzoni , then we’ll cross Arona, a joyful and lively
town at the foot of the Vergante’s hills.
We again move northwards leading to Angera, famous for
its 1300’s Rocca, just going round the edge of the town while heading to the Ranco promontory.
We sail along the lake by the “Navigation Lake Maggiore” boat
to land once again on the Piedmonts bank at Intra and then back to
Stresa.
FRIDAY
UPPER VERGANTE
Distance: 40 km (70 km with Mottarone ascent) 25 miles (44 miles
with Mottarone ascent)
Difficulty: Easy - Medium (Demanding the uphill slope to Mottarone)
Today, we first reach Arona and before entering its built-up area
we turn over towards the inlands heading to the Upper Vergante to admire
the copper statue of the Patron. These were constructed in the middle of
the 1600’s by the
will of cardinal Federico Borromeo, a cousin of the saint.
We carry on along the gentle ups and downs of the Upper Vergante area famous for the
production azaleas .
Once we have arrived in Carpugnino, the more daring riders can start the ascent to
the Mottarone’s peak with its 15 kms (9,3 miles) of demanding uphill
riding while a fantastic and panoramic downhill will lead the
others back to Stresa.
SATURDAY
Departure
