Ispra
Ispra is a lakeside municipality overlooking the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, north of Angera and Ranco. The town layout is determined by two rocky hills: Mount Prete and Mount Nassi. Their steep, rocky slopes are marked by the traces of old lime kilns. The town is also home to several hamlets, and about 30% is occupied by the JRC (Joint Research Center), the only office in Italy for this research centre for the European Union.
Tourism in Ispra
Although its land is rugged and rocky, Ispra has been inhabited since ancient times. Unequivocal traces have been discovered of the populations living here during the Iron Age, who were part of the so-called Culture of Golasecca.
The ruins of Castello di San Cristoforo (San Cristoforo castle) are still on the top of Mount Prete. This fortress was once visibly connected with the other local castles and used for signalling. The Church of San Martino complex is also quite interesting, due to the union of two churches positioned in opposite directions. The oldest one (17th century) looks towards the lake and the younger one (18th century) towards the piazza. The pretty bell tower overlooking them was built in 1680.
Curiosities in Ispra
Certainly tourism in Ispra is not a recent phenomenon; in fact, the superb gardens of the great noble residences from the 1800’s embellish the entire surrounding area.
Another traditional and age-old activity was the extraction and processing of limestone, as shown by the obvious signs of the white gashes in the sides of the hill and four of the kilns once used to process quicklime.
Lastly, Ispra is characterised by its long lakeshore development. The coast can almost be entirely walked along a section of pedestrian precinct, which is equipped with facilities.
Accommodations in Ispra
If you’re interested in the many curiosities in Ispra and are planning a trip, take a look at all the local hotels!
