Milan & Lake Maggiore
A dear friend invited me to meet in Italy stay at her brother’s vacation home on Lago Maggiore, for a week in April. That invitation was the GIFT that was the reason I planned this trip. I did not want to be jet-lagged for the “Friends Trip to Italy.” I started in Florence 10 days early & promised to meet my friends at Malpensa Airport in Milan when they arrived.
From Lucca I boarded a Trenitalia Train for Firenze. I had a 2 hour layover for the high speed train to Milan City. Once there, I saw a Lounge. I had a business class ticket & when I inquired, if I upgraded to first class for 9 Euros I could use the lounge. No brainer & very comfortable; it was a big help for this senior traveling solo. 
In Milan City I changed trains for the one hour train to Malpensa. It was easy. When I went upstairs to the airport, like a mirage, I immediately saw the entrance to the Sheraton where I had reserved the night before my friend’s flights. The Sheraton was a beautiful, modern conference hotel. Spacious rooms with amenities & a Platinum Breakfast to die for! I discovered the Croissant with Pistachio Crema that became my daily northern Italy treat!
Pistachio Croissant
My friend’s brother whom I really enjoy, met me in the morning & we went to meet “the ladies.”
Ranco is a quiet small town on Lake Maggiore in the north about an hour from Lugano & the alps. It is just a 45 minute drive from Malpensa. The train station with express trains to Milan used daily by commuters is in nearby Sesto Calende.
My friends planned our week. A ferry boat trip to Stresa, a drive to and around Lake Como, a Cooking Class & a full day of touring in Milan. 
Lake Como, Italy
I will let my photos show our very special week. The rainy weather that I had in Tuscany was predicted to continue. But we ultimately did not have much rain & we certainly didn’t let that stop us.
From Ranco we took the one hour ferry boat to Sresa. Then we caught a small boat to Isola Bella, a small island in the lake with a famous Palace & Garden we planned to visit. The Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Bella and Gardens are t highlight of a visit to Sresa. The official website says:
Palazzo Borromeo is the culmination of centuries of architectural evolution—an enduring masterpiece that has taken shape as a monumental residence designed for prestige and grandeur. Today, it serves as a Baroque art museum, housing an extraordinary collection of paintings, tapestries, sculptures, artifacts, and treasures that transport visitors into the splendor of bygone eras.
The 20+ rooms of the palace are named to reflect their original purpose, such as the Sala di Conversazione and the Sala da Ballo, or take inspiration from the distinctive and valuable furnishings they contain, like the Sala delle Medaglie, the Sala del Trono, and the Galleria degli Arazzi, which houses exquisite Flemish textiles depicting mythological scenes. Some rooms are named for historical events or illustrious figures who stayed within their walls, such as the Sala di Napoleone and the Sala della Regina.
Antique Pietre Dure at the Palazzo. It’s my favorite.
The building was beautiful, and is filled with priceless art of all kinds. The gardens overlooking Lake Maggiore include grand structures that tower over the lake. One could spend an entire day relaxing there. We spent about 2 & 1/2 hours, but we had planned a special lunch at another grand old Stresa location & had a reservation at the Grand Hotel et De Iles Borommees back on the mainland.
Amazing Isola Bella Palace Gardens
Our formal midday meal at the famous Grand Hotel et De Iles Borommees did not disappoint. This historic hotel in Stresa is known for its art collection. We wandered the lobby before lunch and some of the hallways with rooms looking at the art, afterwards. The hotel garden is also lovely.
Stresa Lunch
Hotel Barommees Garden
Lake Como & Bellagio: one full day, we drove up to Lake Como with a plan to take a ferry from Como to Bellagio. So many other others had the same plan that the ferry wait would have been two hours. Instead, we took a beautiful drive along the coast to Tremezzo, on Lake Como and took the 15 minute ferry across to Bellagio. We stopped and had lunch at a touristy spot near the ferry dock, then walked around this charming town that caters to tourists before returning to Tremezzo where we visited the Villa Carlotta & Gardens before the scenic ride home.
Our Host, Lake Como Drive
Cooking with Chef Marco:
We found a cooking class in nearby Sesto Calende offered by an experienced Chef in his home. He had a Belgian family booked for our available day & said that if we didn’t mind joining them we could certainly come. Every day was a highlight but we really enjoyed the cooking class. We made an appetizer, branzino fish, zucchini ravioli, the pasta of course from scratch, traditional Tiramiso. We started at 10:00 AM & our group ate our beautiful lunch outside in Chef Marco’s garden. Highly recommended if you are in this area.
In the Garden, We Ate What We Cooked!
Milan Tour Day: The City of Milan is just an hour & 15 minute express train ride from the station in Sesto Calende. We left the early & we were on a train before 8:00 AM headed for Milano Centrale, the main train station. We had booked a 10:00 AM tour of La Scala, the Famous Milan Opera House, and a second, 3 hour afternoon guided walking tour of Milan. Our guides on both tours were well informed and easy to follow and understand. The La Scala Opera House tour was very historic though there were no available shows that week. The Duomo is awe inspiring and even creepy. We all liked the afternoon walk past renowned shops, the Starbucks Roastery, one of only a handful worldwide, and the very historic Castle where we saw Michelangelo’s last Pieta in a beautiful show of music & light. It was a wonderfully busy and interesting full day.
Milan Piazza Duomo
We had a wonderful impromptu day visit to the charming town of Arona. We took a quick ferry across the Lake from Ranco to go exploring. What a wonderful and walkable town. There’s a Piazza with a Carousel & Cafes along the Lake, beautiful stores, lots of Trattorias on winding streets & of course churches & views from above.
Oh the Pastries!
One of my favorite activities was exploring my host’s well established gardens. There is a mature kitchen garden, beautiful azaleas, rhododendron, in bloom, a rose garden, a grape arbor, Italian cypress, Japanese maples, terraced along the land which is above Lake Maggiore with peaceful views. One evening we made Chef Marco’s fish for an Al fresco dinner. I fried up some sage and carrots with the beautiful garden sage, olive oil, lemon & butter and it was so delicious. 
After this special week I was in love with peaceful Ranco and its coffee cafe on the lake where we relaxed each morning with cappuccino & the very special pistachio croissants of the Milan region. I can see what brought my host’s family to come here & I wish them many happy years in Ranco.
My friends flew home & I had two nights at the Courtyard Marriott Linate. My flight home was Delta KLM through Amsterdam leaving from Linate, the smaller airport closer to Milan. My niece’s wedding was scheduled for the next month. I thought just maybe I can find a dress in Milan. I had a very fun & successful shopping day. The girls at the Boutique Imperial chose clothes for me to try & I had found two dresses and a pair of jeans by 12 noon. I stopped in many cafe’s and gelato shops throughout my leisurely day. 
My flights were fine. And it was a fabulous trip to Italy. With every memory I thank my good friends for their gracious invitation & hospitality.
This featured blog entry was written by Nsevers from the blog On the Road Again.
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