| Stresa | |
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| — Comune — | |
| Comune di Stresa | |
| Stresa, as seen from mountain-top. | |
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Stresa
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Province | Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (VB) |
| Frazioni | Brisino, Carciano, Levo, Binda, Passera, Someraro, Vedasco, Magognino, Stropino, Alpino, Mottarone, Isola Bella, Isola Pescatori. |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Canio Di Milia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 33 km2 (12.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 200 m (656 ft) |
| Population (30 September 2008) | |
| • Total | 5,155 |
| • Density | 156.2/km2 (404.6/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Stresiani |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 28838 |
| Dialing code | 0323 |
| Patron saint | Ambrose |
| Website | Official website |
Stresa is a town and comune of about 5,000 inhabitants on the shores of the Lago (Lake) Maggiore in the region of Piedmont, northern Italy; it is situated on the road and rail routes to the Simplon pass, about 90 km north-west of Milan. Since the early 20th century, the main source of income has been the tourist trade. Like other locations on Lago Maggiore, it benefits from spectacular views as well as areas of historical and architectural interest.
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The name of this town first appeared in documents in 998.
In the 15th century it grew into a fishing community and owed feudal allegiance to the Visconti family. It subsequently came under the control of the Borromeo family.
For centuries Stresa has been a popular retreat for Europe's aristocrats, who have endowed the town with a number of villas. Tourism increased substantially after tunneling of the Simplon Pass allowed train services from north of the Alps to pass through Stresa, in 1906.
One famous visitor in 1948 was Ernest Hemingway who set part of his novel Farewell to Arms in the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees. In 2002 Stresa hosted the 10th International Hemingway Conference.
Stresa is also known for hosting two political conferences in the 20th century:
Stresa hosts one of the most important classical music international festivals, "Settimane Musicali", that occurs every year during the summer.
Regular boat services from the town's two docks provide access to the nearby Borromean Islands and a 20 minute cable car ride leads to the summit of Monte Mottarone, with the Giardino Botanico Alpinia en route.
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