Staying in the Italian Lake District: outdoor activities - SPORTS and other interests
STAYING IN THE ITALIAN LAKE DISTRICT, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES - SPORTS AND THINGS TO DO, BUNGEE JUMPING, ADRENALIN, CLIMBING, PARAGLIDING, HORSE RIDING, SKIING, WALKING, WALKS, RAMBLING, VARESE, HOLIDAY FLAT
Bungee Jumping, Climbing, paragliding, riding skiing, walking...:
BUNGEE JUMPING
Staying in the Italian Lake District? Love outdoor activities? Looking for things to do? Well, remember THAT scene from James Bond? The one where he bungee jumps from a dam? Well, guess what. It was filmed here. Well, not here in Casa Lunga! But just along the lake, past Locarno. So if you're staying here in the Italian Lake District and feel the need for some adrenalin, take a trip!
A short bus-ride east of Locarno is Valle Verzasca, where deathwish freaks can re-enact the opening scene of the James Bond film Goldeneye, by bungee-jumping a world-record 220m off the Verzasca Dam (AprilOct daily; SFr.255.- ; book on +41 848 808 007, or visit www.trekking.ch. In June, July & August, you can jump by moonlight; see the website.
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Climbing
(info about recommended locations etc to come)
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Paragliding
Tandem flights from Monte Lema.
Contact either Fly & Smile Monte Lema, Tel: +41 79 239 0666, www.parapendio.ch ,
or Giuliano Zanetti, Tel: +41 79 371 6768.
Giuliano Zanetti apparently speaks English.
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Riding
Stroll into La Selleria in Luino, and you are surrounded by the redolent smell of leather, the sight of saddles and bridles, jodhpurs and jackets. Signor Edoardo Mascheroni, who runs this saddlery, recommends
Il Frassino for those who want to ride. Close to Ghirla, the stables provide both lessons and, for more advanced riders, the option of riding through the countryside.
Il Frassino: Tel: +39 0332 715 617 (landline) or +39 348 604 9636 (mobile)
La Selleria: Via XXV Aprile 45, 21016 Luino.
Tel/fax: +39 0332 511 040. Email info@mascheroniselleria.com
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Skiing
There are snowfields around Locarno: Monte Lema, Bosco Gurin, Airolo and San Bernardino.
Others within Italy and within reach of Casa Lunga (but further away than the Swiss ones) are Lanzo d'Intelvi near Lecco, and Mottarone.
These snowfields are good: but be warned that there is often not as much snow as further north of the Alps. Great for a day trip when the conditions are right, in other words, but if you're yearning for a more guaranteed snowfest, you may be better off heading for Splügen and Andermatt, both of which are easily accessible from here, on the northern side of San Bernardino.
Having said which, conditions year-to-year vary enormously. February 2006, Casa Lunga still had half a meter of snow: but both in 2007 and 2008 we've frequently been able to eat lunch outside, without need of jackets or jumpers, since early January.
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Walking
The hills are alive with ... short walks, medium walks, tough walks. Local walks, distant walks. Walks which allow you to swap one of the legs of your journey with a ride, up or down, in a funicular; walks along the beautiful lake front, walks just for a breath of fresh air. It's up to you.
Step out of Casa Lunga's door and you will find yourself surrounded by tranquil woodlands. Whatever the season, rambling through them is a delight. Wander through them to catch a glimpse of fawns or baby wild boar in the spring: stroll up to and along the Giro del Sole in the summer: comb them for edible mushrooms and collect chestnuts for roasting in the autumn: or enjoy the clear air and the crisp leaves underfoot in the winter. This area of the Italian Lake District in the province of Varese is beautiful in every season: staying in the holiday flat here in Casa Lunga allows you to enjoy it to the full.
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