This year we stayed in Italy for our holidays. Our first stop was Stresa on Lago Maggiore in Piemonte. The best way to travel around here is by taking the ferry.



I managed to visit the 3 islands: Isola Bella, Isola Maggiore and Isola Madre.

The Italianate gardens on Isola Bella are spectacular, Isola Superiore has some interesting corners, whilst the more distant and less crowded botanic gardens on Isola Madre are very relaxing.



Another nice trip was to the Santa Catherina monastery on the Lombard side of the lake.

The monastery is built on a cliff face and the only easy way to get there is by boat.



A day in the mountains above Domodossola where I visited the “Orridi di Uriezzo – Baceno” a series of narrow gorges, the most spectacular being the “Orrido Sud”. Unlike the “Orrido di Botri” they are without water and therefore are easy to explore.



Lago Omegna over the mountain from Stresa has an interesting monastery in the middle of the lake at Orto san Giulio.



We made a stopover in Turin the centre of which I have never seen. Quite spectacular in August when most of the Torinesi are on holiday and one can enjoy the vast squares.



Last port of call San Remo, it was tremendously hot and humid. I managed to explore the old city, a warren of narrow passages.