Monday dawned bright and sunny and we had decided to drive down the lake to Verbania and then possibly on to the Borromean Islands. It was easy going and in spite of the normal Italian drivers who would seem to regard any speed limit as an affront to their freedom to drive like madmen, we drove on to Stresa and caught a boat to the Borromean islands stopping first at Isola dei Pescatori
None of the islands are large and it did not take long to walk all around Pescatori and we stopped for a coffee at a small bar where the LLW joined the proprietor in encouraging a relunctant duck to return to the lake.
On then to Isola Bella which, I had assumed was named so since it is a beautiful island, but apparently in 1630, Carlo III Borromeo decided to name the island after his wife Isabella D'Adda. So it became Isola Isabella later shortened to Isola Bella!
The palace is extraordinary and well quite palatial! The gardens replete with white peacocks and very disinterested pea hens are even more extraordinary and OTT but lovely.
We stopped for lunch at a really good and surprisingly inexpensive restaurant on the island where the owner was very keen to discuss the merits of the local wines. Back then to Stresa for a wander around the old town and time to marvel at the numerous palace hotels that were built when Stresa was a must visit location on the Grand Tour. Oh and the first shoes of the holiday were purchased!!
More provisions were needed on our way home and for the first time ever we visited a Lidl supermarket, In spite of the LLW's protestations that it simply was not like Waitrose, we came away with some excellent food and wine at unbelievably low prices.
A great day and we are wondering why it has taken us so long to revisit the Italian Lakes.
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