House Lago Maggiore

Ascona, Switzerland

In Ascona, one of Lago Maggiore’s many lakeside gems, foodie and sailing fanatics alike are sure to find bliss. Located on the Italian-speaking Swiss side of Lago Maggiore in the canton (state) of Ticino near the Italian border, Ascona boasts all the amenities necessary for a weekend of prime sailing and gourmet dining.

Those seeking lively clubs, bars and an under-40 crowd ought to reconsider Ascona as a vacation destination. However, what energy Ascona lacks during late-night hours it makes up for in lake leisure and epicurean delight.

There’s no shortage of fantastic hotels in Ascona; unfortunately, most rooms come at fantastically high rates. Top five-star picks include Eden Roc (Via Albarelle 16) and Giardino (Via del Segnale 10) – or head to Best Western’s Hotel Sasso Boretto (Viale Monte Verita 45) for the best value.

Ascona’s pride is its Piazza G. Motta boardwalk, a stretch of brightly colored buildings that house Italian eateries, patisseries, gelaterias and cigar shops under candy-yellow striped awnings. Aside from sailing, relaxing patio-side at one of these Italian bistros while enjoying the views of cascading Alps over azure lake waters is an Ascona must.

At Marnin Pasticceria (Piazza G. Motta) you’ll find the town’s best chocolate croissants and Amaretti. Several bright buildings away sits Al Porto, another bread and cake favorite. Just next door resides Osteria Nostrana by Fred Feldpausch (Piazza G. Motta), Ascona’s best Italian restaurant. Famous thin-crust pizza, perfect vitello tonnato and impeccable service lure a heavy crowd come dinner time, so come early (only large groups can make reservations) – particularly if you want patio seating.

Another Feldpausch hit is Grotto Broggini, a high-end rotisserie chicken superstar located several minutes inland from the boardwalk. Many flock here to enjoy hot-off-the-spit hens under a canopy of illuminated trees in the Italian courtyard.

Chartering a sailboat in Ascona can be done through Verband Schweizer Segelschulen-Association Suisse des Ecoles de Voile (VSSS-ASEV) or the Ascona Sailing and Motor Boat School. Sailing itineraries include leisurely loops around the botanical gardens of the Brissago Islands and a three-day excursion to the far end of Lago Maggiore. Alternatively, the other side of the lake can be reached in just one day by motorboat, which leaves Ascona several times a day.

Prefer to watch the action from afar? Check out waterfront Porto Ronco Beach Club, a beach restaurant, bar and lounge offering live jazz from May through September. Jazz fanatics also ought to consider visiting during JazzAscona, Ascona’s very own Jazz Festival, which runs from late June through early July each year.

THE LAST MONTH FISHING THE PIAVE in Fishing Bamboo Fly Rods Forum

Hi guys, i would like to share you my last month in my preferite home water : the Piave river in the north east of Italy.
Let the photos tell about it ...and hope you 'll enjoy them :


A beautiful scenario of the Piave , the photo was taken yesterday, the water is still cold but the snow-water has lost its intensity and hope in the next days to see more trout rising...


one of my preferite gear : W&M Granger De Luxe 8642 , 1930's Hardy Perfect 3 3/8" , silk line DT 5 Peche A Soie


a bunch of bamboo people ..all vintage rods, from the left : Pezon et Michel St. Louis, Leonard pre-fire 66 1\2 , Pezon et Michel Supreme and Heddon 9' Blue Waters


crystal clear water , this is one of the Piave characteristics ...and from the rising i thought it was a bigger trout


this time it was a big fish


A Catch and release area of the Piave with a lot of huge trout and grayling  in Belluno downtown, a nice old town and look at the Alpi mountains in the background


my Leonard 66 1\2 and my Young 15A 3 1\2" fighting against a huge trout


my friend Ginger had in sight a big one and ...look at the photo below what happened


desperate because he broke his bamboo rod tip setting the hook on that big trout


the water is so clear you can see the trout on the bottom, that is a huge brown


my friend Edoardo a very fine bamboo rodmaker  not with a own made rod but with his Leonard Maxwell made and a nice hybrid between marble and brown trout , those fish are quite common in the Piave .



a brown of the Piave


but there are also huge rainbows


playing the fish in the middle of the stream..what a paradise !!


Edoardo and Paolo, Paolo is happy because he is testing his new and wonderful rod built by Edoardo


a good test so far, he caught this wonderful marble trout , the typical and wild trout of the Piave .



wow .. a very strong grayling on the line ..a nice test for my Leonard and Young reel


landing the giant grayling.. what a extraordinary fish , i love it so much !!


one of my last month biggest, a wonderful hybrid 80% marble and 20% brown trout, look at the red spots from brown .

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