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THE BREAKFAST
La Cucina
Orto
La cantina
A week of delights, the seven best things to do and see around La Darbia.
I was asked recently what are the best destinations around our Lake d 'Orta, such as the most suggestive itineraries, the most interesting places and the activities not to be missed. Believe me, art, good food, nature, landscape, sport, there is an embarrassing amount to choose from!
Here is a list of my favourites:
The island of San Giulio and the ancient village of Orta
One of the most beautiful places in the world, an enchanted island that emerges from the water with its wonderful Benedictine monastery. Medieval legends surround this magical place, the mystical symbol of the whole lake.
Orta San Giulio
Right in front of the island, the village of Orta is destined to capture the visitor with narrow streets, palaces, churches and alleys that glide towards the lake. A romantic aperitif in the small square, not to be missed!
The Sacred Mount of Orta
Built in the 16th century and dedicated to Saint Francis, the Sacro Monte dominates Orta and offers a breathtaking view. I suggest a walk when the lights of the sunset make the lake sparkle, while the ringing of bells fills the sky.
The Madonna del Sasso
A true balcony overlooking the Cusio, the imposing sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso built on a granite spur, dominates the western shore of the lake. Sometimes it appears dazzling, kissed by the morning sun, or it emerges wrapped in the lake fog, it always evokes a fairytale scenario.
Stresa and the Borromean Islands
Stresa is the true pearl of Lake Maggiore, with its elegant liberty style hotels and the three Borromean islands that emerge from the water and offer enchanted views. It is no coincidence that great artists of a not too distant past (from Hemingway to Flaubert, from Lord Byron to Stendhal) have linked their name to these places so full of charm.
Mount Mottarone
Mottarone is synonymous with relaxing walks along broom-bordered paths, alpine huts where you can taste polenta, winter skiing along snow-covered slopes. The funniest attraction? The Alpyland amusement park with its rail bobsleigh track.
The gardens of Villa Taranto
Everyone should give up a couple of hours visiting the famous gardens of Villa Taranto, overlooking Lake Maggiore, especially in spring when the park offers an incredible spectacle with thousands of flower beds and a blaze of colourful tulips.
Before saying goodbye, I would also like to remind everyone of the many fun activities that our lake offers, from SUP to canoeing, from boats to daring dives (have you ever tried the great high dive board at Gozzano?) And again: the acrobatic courses at the Adventure Park and bicycle rides (maybe electric ...) through woods and paths.
Maybe, maybe a week is not enough...
Red, cheerful and greedy. True symbol of summer and the countryside, cherries are a simple but irresistible pleasure.
I just bought a basket at the market and I already feel happy: an intoxicating scent of summer invades the house, while the cheerfulness of the intense red makes me think of the holidays.
Have you ever noticed? In May, when the cherry trees bloom, our mood changes too: the dense and fluffy flowers, white or pink, remind us, with their joyful explosion, that the summer is upon us. As the days get longer and the light becomes more intense, clusters of sweet and fleshy fruit ripen on the trees, promising a carefree season.
As children we used to steal them by adventurously climbing over walls and nimbly climbing trees, which is why cherries take me back in time and make me think of the flavours of the countryside and life in the open air. Even in the large park of La Darbia, between May and June the cherry trees in front of the vineyard seem to explode with luxuriant blooms. So, while I think of delicious jams or soft tarts, I ask chef Monfrinotti to explain some simple and delicious recipes to make the most of this summer fruit.
Have you ever thought about caramelized cherries? Or cooked in wine? Or again, in the filling of a strudel or spread on a brioche? Excellent in cheesecake or in the classic grandmother's cake, fantastic with cream or custard, also delicious in slightly spicy mustard. They are versatile and generous fruits, they go well with any dish. I like them for breakfast with local yogurt, but also in muffins and tiramisu. They are also delicious with eggnog, not to mention the varieties that are put in alcohol.
Herbal teas are also a real marvel, if you boil some water and dip a handful of dried cherry stalks into it, leaving them to infuse, you will get a delicious purifying drink within half an hour.
In Greek mythology, the cherry tree was consecrated to Venus, the goddess of beauty and love, while in the East this tree has always represented feminine beauty and prosperity. In Japan, the "sakura" is a true national symbol, legend has it that the colour of its petals and fruit is a reminder of the blood of the samurai who died in battle.
Cherry stones have also been found in some prehistoric sites, confirming that this juicy fruit was already appreciated by Neolithic men, while Pliny the Elder, in his "Naturalis historia" listed ten different varieties. We also admire them in some Renaissance paintings, which depict them on the tables of the nobility as a delicate accompaniment to game meat.
Here, now that I have told you so many beautiful things about cherries, I sit down at the table and enjoy their sweet taste. But first, honoring tradition, I make three wishes, as you should do the first time of the year when you taste these sweet delights ... I'm not sure if it works, but it's worth trying ... you never know!
Golf, golf and more golf. How not to fall in love with this sport, aristocratic and elegant, ancient and ecological, a combination of healthy slowness and ingenious strategy?
I still juggle a little awkwardly between woods, irons and putters. I move between bunker and fairway, I train to improve my swing, I start from the tee and then slide on a green and soft green, gently accompanying the ball into the hole. I relax and enjoy it, spending time together with friends more experienced than me who have offered to teach me this aristocratic sport.
Of course, you will have understood, I'm talking about golf… a very trendy discipline. It is all a flourishing of fields and clubs around our lakes: those who want to play this noble game are spoiled for choice, amidst evocative views and modern, well-equipped clubs.
In an uncontaminated natural environment, among centuries-old oak and larch woods, on the hills above Stresa, the Golf Des Iles Borromées boasts an amazing panoramic view that sweeps from Lake Maggiore to the Simplon Alps and Switzerland. An 18-hole course winds its way through undulations and natural obstacles, offering moments of authentic serenity. Among the most appreciated services that the structure can offer to its visitors, we remember a well-equipped driving range, a well-kept putting green, a trolley and bag rental service, a well-stocked pro-shop.
The Golf di Bogogno is also located in a strategic position, between the enchanting views of Lake Maggiore and the nearby Milan-Malpensa airport. The design of the course was signed by the architect Robert Von Hagge: he had the idea of interpreting the various obstacles as real visual messages to suggest the most suitable game tactics. The design of the "Conte" route, framed by the peaks of Monte Rosa, recalls a link course, between large open spaces and flat areas, while the "Bonora" route winds through a wide hilly area surrounded by wild nature, with typical views of the Ticino Park.
Among the oldest Italian golf courses, the Castelconturbia Golf Club, founded in 1898 near a seventeenth-century castle, also belongs to an enchanting natural setting. The origin of this club is due to the passion for golf of Count Gaspar Flights - in love with this discipline following his frequent trips to Scotland - who managed to convince Count Avogadro di Collobiano to build a nine-hole course on his estate. The course, also frequented by the members of the House of Savoy, has been redesigned and rearranged several times, resulting in the creation of the three current courses.
I conclude my review by recalling the Alpine Golf of Stresa, one of the most renowned and important courses in Italy, characterized by the presence of excellent professional players and a course that extends over a natural terrace on the slopes of Mottarone. Built in 1924, thanks to the design of the architect Peter Gannon and the skillful direction of the master Pasquali, the Club gave life to the first Italian Open and has hosted national and international competitions over the course of its prestigious history. The club house is the beating heart of the structure, which is also remembered for a strong welcoming spirit and for a varied and suggestive itinerary.
Noble and sophisticated, golf has always conveyed the idea of a refined and elitist sport, even if it is not just a competitive discipline. It summarizes in itself physical exercise and ability to concentrate, the search for the perfect swing and an opportunity for harmony with nature. It seems healthy and wise to me, in these difficult times, to abandon ourselves, at least for a few hours, to a green experience, a true school of serenity.