Mt. Mottarone
The mountain at the doors of the earthly paradise (Orazio Spanna), the Italian Righi (Baedeker), the most aristocratic (Karl Täuber). Innumerable quotations could be found in the attempt to describe the beauty and the charm of the Mottarone (called Mergozzolo in the past).
With its 1491 metres, this imposing but gentle mountain divides Lake Maggiore from Lake d'Orta, and offers breathtaking panoramas and foreshortened views.
It is an authentic spectacle spacing all round in a 360° range, from the Ligurian Appennine Chain to the Marittime Alps, to the Mount Rosa Massif, to Monviso and the other Swiss peaks, including the Po Valley and the incomparable scenario of the Seven Lakes (Orta, Maggiore, Mergozzo, Biandronno, Varese, Monate, Comabbio).
To the enthusiast walkers, the Mottarone offers a myriad path with panoramic and historic interest, by means of which it is possible to go through century-old woods of firs, pines, larches, beeches and chestnut trees, to see old mountain pastures with grazing flocks and meadows perfumed by herbs and flowers.
The Mottarone has also some geological interest, which is witnessed by several quarries, with a majority of white and pink granite.
In 1911 the top was connected to the centre of Stresa by means of an historical rack railway, which was dismantled afterwards to leave the place to the modern cableway. On the peak there are several refreshment services.
During the winter it is an important centre for winter sport. The news has recorded that here, on 18th January 1935, an international ski contest took place (the "Duce Coup") which was for Italy the first giant slalom competition.
