At ca. 20 km from the peak of Mottarone, you can visit the fascinating and romantic Orta, an ancient village overlooking the lake with the same name, from where you can take the boat to the island of S.Giulio. At the Sacro Monte of Orta, you can have a walk in the green in the midst of chapels representing the life of Saint Francis.
Not very distant from Orta, there is Omegna, where you can go shopping for your house at the outlet of the Alessi company.
There are two very modern and comfortable malls one beside the other at Gravellona Toce: the shopping centre “Le Isole” and "Parco Commerciale dei Laghi".
The nearest towns where you can find newsstands, chemist's shop, filling station, etc... are Armeno distant ca. 13 km and Gignese distant ca. 11 Km. At Gignese, you can visit the Museum of the umbrella and of the parasol, a very interesting and peculiar structure.
Not too far from Stresa, there is also the beautiful and lively city of Arona, overlooking Lake Maggiore, an entertainment place for youngsters and well known especially for the huge statue of S. Carlo Borromeo (almost 23 meters in height!) that can be visited internally.
