The completion of theSimplon Tunnel in 1906, bringing rail passengers from Switzerland to Italy putStresa well and truly on the map and it became the principal resort on LakeMaggiore. Aristocratic villas and hotels quickly followed to accommodate theinflux of tourists, impressed with its mild climate and luxuriant vegetation.Visitors have been coming ever since and in 1948 Hemingway came and set part ofhis novel ‘A Farewell to Arms’ in the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees, whichbrought even more tourists. In 2002, Stresa hosted the 10thInternational Hemingway Conference. Three fine villas will be visited on thistour, the Villa Ducale in the centre of town, dates back to 1770 and in 1848was inherited by the Italian philosopher Antonio Rosmini-Serbati and today ithouses the International Centre for Rosminian Studies. Just outside Stresa isthe Villa Pallavicino with a wildlife park and the Villa Dell’Orto.
