From Mottarone at 1492 meters above sea level, the view extends from the Alpi Marittime to Monviso, from Monte Rosa to the Swiss Alps, up to the Po Valley.
On the Mottarone, to see the seven lakes and the peak of Monte Rosa.
Information- The Vetta del Mottarone is approximately 16 km from the motorway exit. From the A26 Voltri-Gravellona Toce motorway, Brovello Carpugnino exit, follow towards Gignese-Armeno-Mottarone, approximately 22 km. The toll cost is €10 for cars and €8 for motorbikes. The driving distance between Orta San Giulio al Mottarone is 17 km.
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Geographical description– The 1492 high Mottarone is a granite mountain, located in Piedmont, in the Pennine Alps, divided between the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and the province of Novara. From Mottarone the view extends from the Maritime Alps to Monviso, from Monte Rosa to the Swiss Alps, up to the Po Valley. A unique scenario and a history full of important events.
A bit of history- Before the twentieth century, Mottarone presented itself with a very different appearance from its current one, the activities carried out were mainly linked to breeding, pastoralism and mountain pastures. Farmers have always used Mottarone as a summer grazing location for their livestock. Therefore, until the first half of the nineteenth century, Mottarone was always appreciated, on the one hand, for the goodness of the pastures and, on the other, for the ability of the shepherds to prepare butter and local cheeses.
Only in the last years of the 19th century was Mottarone launched into the Olympus of tourist resorts by Orazio Spanna, jurist, lawyer and mountaineer. It was Spanna himself who promoted the construction of a hotel on the summit of Mottarone. The idea finally materialized in 1880 and the works for the construction of the Grand Hotel Mottarone began in June 1884. Among the main guests of the Grand Hotel Mottarone we remember: Emanuele Filiberto, Vittorio Emanuele, Luigi Amedeo, Isabella di Baviera, Margherita di Savoy.
Thus at the end of the 19th century, the Mottarone, thanks to the elegance and functionality of the hotel, was listed in tourist guides and recommended among the best places to stay for the immensity and grandeur of its panorama. Orazio Spanna died in May 1892 and was buried in Ameno, near the slopes of Mottarone, as he requested.
Due to its proximity to Milano and its panorama, Mottarone thus became the favorite destination of some Lombard and Milanese naturalist painters, such as Filippo Carcano and Moses Bianchi and of musicians such as Arturo Toscanini, Guido Cantelli, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli.
What to see and what to do- With a breathtaking view that reaches up to Monte Rosa, Mottarone is also called the "terrace of the seven lakes" due to its privileged position from which you can admire Lake Maggiore, Lake Mergozzo, Lake Varese , Lake Orta, Lake Comabbio, Lake Monate and Lake Biandronno.
Mottarone is a popular destination for skiers and lovers of uncontaminated nature as well as a place to regenerate and taste local delicacies. At Mottarone, ski lovers will find 21 km of slopes, with routes suitable for everyone and varying degrees of difficulty. The first prize goes to the red slope of Alpe Corti which descends for over 2.5 km from the top of Mottarone.
Even in summer you won't get bored, among the suggestive walks immersed in nature, admiring squirrels, hares and if you're lucky foxes and deer. In Gignese, 11 km from Mottarone, there is the large green and blue bench installed next to the small chapel of Mount Sciarè. It can be reached in just under ten minutes on foot, leaving the car in Pisciola (near the ecological oasis, the old sports field and the picnic area).
From the top of the hill at 839 meters above sea level, at the foot of Mottarone, you have a view of the villages below, a glimpse of Lake Maggiore and that of Varese. In Alpino (a hamlet of Stresa), located on the slopes of Mottarone, there is the Alpinia botanical garden which covers an area of approximately 40,000 m² and hosts more than a thousand botanical species coming from the Alpine and subalpine belt, as well as from the Caucasus, China and from Japan. The garden is located in a panoramic area and offers a natural balcony with a large viewpoint over Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands