Fireworks Festival Lakes and Mountains

Unmissable summer event on the VCO territory: Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore and the most beautiful Ossola mountains

Every year in summer the evocative appointment with pyrotechnic shows is repeated among the most evocative natural sceneries that our territory has to offer.
From June 30th to September 1st, all shows are free.

These are the main events scheduled:

SUNDAY 30 JUNE 22.30 in ORTA SAN GIULIO (NO) - Lake Orta Pyromusical show
SATURDAY 27 JULY 22.45 in LOCARNO (CH) - Muralto, Gulf of Locarno Fireworks show
SATURDAY 27 JULY 22.30 at SESTO CALENDE (VA) - Ticino Park Fireworks show
SATURDAY 27 JULY 22.00 at the PIANA DI VIGEZZO - Craveggia (VB), Valle Vigezzo Pyromusical show (VETTE D'ARTIFICIO CALENDAR)
THURSDAY 1 AUGUST 22.30 in LUGANO (CH) - Gulf of Lake Lugano Fireworks display
SATURDAY 3 AUGUST 10.30 pm in CANNOBIO (VB) - Lake Maggiore Pyromusical show
SATURDAY 3 AUGUST 10.30 pm in MACUGNAGA (VB) - Anzasca Valley Pyromusical show (VETTE D'ARTIFICIO CALENDAR)
SUNDAY 4th AUGUST 10.30 pm at MERGOZZO (VB) - Lago di Mergozzo Pyromusical show
SATURDAY 10TH AUGUST 10.30 pm in SAN DOMENICO DI VARZO (VB) Pyromusical show (ARTIFICIAL VETTE CALENDAR)  SUNDAY 11 AUGUST 11.00 pm in VERBANIA-PALLANZA (VB) - Lake Maggiore Fireworks show
WEDNESDAY 14 AUGUST 9.30pm in SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE (VB) - Vigezzo Valley Pyromusical show (ARTIFICIAL VETTE CALENDAR)
SUNDAY 25 AUGUST 9.30pm at OMEGNA (VB) - Lake Orta Pyromusical show
SUNDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 9.30pm at OMEGNA (VB) - Lake Orta Gran Festival pyromusical closing of the Festival

For more information: www.distrettolaghi.it

Look at all the news

Lars - 26-10-2022

Great "hiding place" :) with friendly hosts

The hotel is really beautiful, like on the pictures. Top three impressions: 1) excellent breakfast; 2) very friendly and multi-lingual staff (almost everyone seemed to speak Italian, English, German and French); 3) location (off the beaten path and a

The hotel is really beautiful, like on the pictures. Top three impressions: 1) excellent breakfast; 2) very friendly and multi-lingual staff (almost everyone seemed to speak Italian, English, German and French); 3) location (off the beaten path and a little 'in the middle of nowhere', but so homey! If you look for peace and quite, you're in the right place) Nothing on the list of negatives.

Lars - Couples holiday

26-10-2022

Mooijaart - 01-10-2022

What an amazing stay!

We enjoyed a fantastic stay at this beautiful and well located hotel. The friendliness and support of the staff is exemplary and seemingly effortless what made our stay very enjoyable and relaxing. The restaurant serves high quality foods and wines a

We enjoyed a fantastic stay at this beautiful and well located hotel. The friendliness and support of the staff is exemplary and seemingly effortless what made our stay very enjoyable and relaxing. The restaurant serves high quality foods and wines and the atmosphere is impeccable. This is a hotel where 'service' is not a buzz-word but a well-trained philosophy.

Mooijaart - Couples holiday

01-10-2022

Fmooijart - 14-09-2022

We enjoyed a fantastic stay at this beautiful and well located hotel. The friendliness and support of the staff is exemplary and seemingly effortless what made our stay very enjoyable and relaxing. The restaurant serves high quality foods and wines

We enjoyed a fantastic stay at this beautiful and well located hotel. The friendliness and support of the staff is exemplary and seemingly effortless what made our stay very enjoyable and relaxing. The restaurant serves high quality foods and wines and the atmosphere is impeccable. This is a hotel where 'service' is not a buzz-word but a well trained philosophy.

Fmooijart - Couples holiday

14-09-2022

Anonimo - 12-09-2019

Fantastic!!!

The hotel was spotlessly clean, the staff were fantastic and the food wonderful

Anonimo - Couples holiday

12-09-2019

Amanda R. - 22-07-2019

What a delightful hotel

We stayed at the Hotel Cortese as a family for 4 nights. It’s a beautiful hotel with pretty grounds and a swimming pool which our son loved. The staff were very polite and knowledgeable particularly Ilaria, Alessandro and the night porter (I’m sorry

We stayed at the Hotel Cortese as a family for 4 nights. It’s a beautiful hotel with pretty grounds and a swimming pool which our son loved. The staff were very polite and knowledgeable particularly Ilaria, Alessandro and the night porter (I’m sorry I can’t remember your name) and another gentleman who gave us excellent information regarding our visit to Milano.....thank you. The breakfast was delicious with fresh fruit, yogurts, pastries, and cereals, the staff were again very polite and helpful. Our room was fine, it had a large walk-in shower, lots of bathroom toiletries and thick, fluffy towels. The beds were fairly comfortable with duvets and plump pillows! Thankfully we had a fridge which was very useful for storing drinks. The room was cleaned every day with new towels and once again the cleaners were polite and friendly. We had a beautiful view from our window which overlooked the mountains, on our last day we had cows and goats grazing outside on the communal grass, the bells around their necks made such a beautiful noise and such a lovely sight to see. Ilaria the receptionist said the local farmer did this regularly so the animals can keep the grass short and have a change of scenery! All in all we loved our stay at Hotel Cortese and Armeno, so pretty, not touristy at all, the supermarket close by was very well stocked with lots of Italian treats. Thank you Hotel Cortese.

Amanda R. - Family holiday

22-07-2019

- 22-10-2018

I would definitely return

It's strange to find such a high quality hotel in such small hillside village - it would not be out of place in Milan itself! It has some really nice "lounge" areas on the ground floor which is useful, as the room itself was not huge, though perfectl

It's strange to find such a high quality hotel in such small hillside village - it would not be out of place in Milan itself! It has some really nice "lounge" areas on the ground floor which is useful, as the room itself was not huge, though perfectly adequate, very newly redecorated and very comfortable, and the grounds (including a pool) are gorgeous. Staff were so helpful and friendly, and dinner in the restaurant was of a similarly high quality to everything else about the hotel. We only stayed one night as we were en route to Orta, but I would definitely return.

- Couples holiday

22-10-2018

- 01-10-2018

Hotel Cortese

I cannot say enough about the Hotel Cortese! I have stayed at hundreds of hotels in my life but very few have exhibited the class that i witnessed here. Great service, a wonderful room, excellent experience. Mario at the bar was a gem. Marco at the

I cannot say enough about the Hotel Cortese! I have stayed at hundreds of hotels in my life but very few have exhibited the class that i witnessed here. Great service, a wonderful room, excellent experience. Mario at the bar was a gem. Marco at the front desk helped us download a local hiking app and made nemerous suggestions that were helpful to us. I would come back here in an instant. It is too bad I live in Colorado. Kudos to the owner and employees, they deseereve it!

01-10-2018

- 23-09-2018

Excellent

Lovely gardens, terrace and swimming pool. Spacious Junior Suite. All staf are excellent - profesional and friendly, especially in the restaurant where they are very knowledgeable about the menu and wide choise of wines. Our evening meal was excellen

Lovely gardens, terrace and swimming pool. Spacious Junior Suite. All staf are excellent - profesional and friendly, especially in the restaurant where they are very knowledgeable about the menu and wide choise of wines. Our evening meal was excellent and the best of our three week tour of Italy. Truly outstanding breakfast!

23-09-2018

- 22-08-2018

Great place out of the busy lago d'Orta

We couldn't find a room on the lake as it was too busy, so we kept driving and found this beautiful 4 stars, just minutes away from the main roads... very well done, nice pool and clean rooms, staff very available and helpful...great food at the rest

We couldn't find a room on the lake as it was too busy, so we kept driving and found this beautiful 4 stars, just minutes away from the main roads... very well done, nice pool and clean rooms, staff very available and helpful...great food at the restaurant... we have extended our stay...as it was worthy... Also Armeno was a cute village with lots to discover.

22-08-2018

- 21-08-2018

No reasons to leave the area

Hotel Cortese is a nice hotel, all you need is there so basically you have no reasons to leave the area. If you enjoy walking, hiking, biking I'd definitely recommend this place. The views in the area are very beautiful. So calming- so relaxing. Also

Hotel Cortese is a nice hotel, all you need is there so basically you have no reasons to leave the area. If you enjoy walking, hiking, biking I'd definitely recommend this place. The views in the area are very beautiful. So calming- so relaxing. Also, the pool was nice :). There aren't that many restaurants in a short walking distance, but this is more than fine, as the hotel restaurant is excellent! In the area there are cute places to visit, like Gignese and Lake Orta, to name few.

21-08-2018

- 16-08-2018

Comfortable rooms and great staff

Fantastic relaxing time after a hard day walk from Mottarone to Armeno. Helpful friendly staff, great food and clean comfy rooms. Wished we could stay longer but we had to walk on to Orta the next day.

16-08-2018

- 15-08-2018

Quiet location

Quiet location very clean hotel rooms were very well furnished. Staff very friendly and helpful. The grounds are very pleasant great pool. We had B&B which was always good? Yes! Would I go back there? Yes I would.

15-08-2018

- 30-07-2018

The staff went above and beyond to help make our stay in Italy an interesting and enjoyable one

We really enjoyed our stay at the Hotel. The staff were exceptionally helpful and really made our stay an enjoyable one.

30-07-2018

- 18-07-2018

Excellent stay

We had an excellent stay in june 2018: nice room, friendly staff, very good meals and bar,nice restaurant and garden( space ...), good advice, car park, good location...

18-07-2018

- 13-07-2018

Fabulous hotel

A real surprise to find this. A lovely hotel and the staff were very helpful. We had a problem in our room - of our making - and they sorted us out immediately. Good wine list and food, fabulous pool and the room was immaculate.

13-07-2018

- 05-06-2018

A peaceful retreat in the hills above Orta

A hotel with excellent facilities; good restaurant and very helpful multi lingual staff; Ideally situated and recommended for walking and exploring the area. The room was comfortable and had an excellent bathroom.

05-06-2018

Graham - 26-05-2018

Restaurant fabulous

An excellent experience with friendly staff. The restaurant if fabulous too. The hotel was a little quiet but that suited us as it is a little distance away from the main tourist areas.

Graham - Couples holiday

26-05-2018

Inge - 29-03-2017

Just PERFECT! They take good care of all the guests

I was at Cortese Hotel for a few times for a wedding. It is really just PERFECT! The service, the rooms, the breakfast, the interior and exterior and the pool, all are really perfect! Beside that, Marco,the owner is super friendly and they will for

I was at Cortese Hotel for a few times for a wedding. It is really just PERFECT! The service, the rooms, the breakfast, the interior and exterior and the pool, all are really perfect! Beside that, Marco,the owner is super friendly and they will for sure take good care of all the guests.

Inge - Business trip

29-03-2017

Catherine and C...B - 09-09-2016

A Hidden Gem

We stayed at the Cortese Hotel in late August for three nights so that we could visit Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore whilst avoiding the crowds. It was, quite simply, perfect. Our room overlooked the gardens and the hills at the front and was comfortabl

We stayed at the Cortese Hotel in late August for three nights so that we could visit Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore whilst avoiding the crowds. It was, quite simply, perfect. Our room overlooked the gardens and the hills at the front and was comfortably air conditioned. Although it wasn't large, it was absolutely fine for what we required - there was plenty of hanging space in spacious wardrobes (with plenty of hangers too!) and the bathroom was clean and well appointed with shower (not bath) and toiletries provided. The breakfast was good and we ate in the restaurant every evening where both the food and service were excellent. In the late afternoons, after sight seeing, we came back to the hotel pool which was beautifully clean and peaceful. The staff were all so friendly and helpful and the only slight criticism we have is that there was a coach party staying in the hotel and they woke us very early on their last day when they got up and made lots of noise. We will certainly return to this hotel and would have no hesitation in recommending it to friends and family - in fact, we have already done so!

Catherine and C...B - Couples holiday

09-09-2016

Sharon M - 11-05-2016

Super Hotel in a Super Location

Hotel Cortese is located in a small, quiet, very beautiful village. It's a modern hotel set in beautiful gardens, with free parking. We were made to feel very welcome by the staff. The rooms are very cosy and comfortable with parquet flooring. Beds a

Hotel Cortese is located in a small, quiet, very beautiful village. It's a modern hotel set in beautiful gardens, with free parking. We were made to feel very welcome by the staff. The rooms are very cosy and comfortable with parquet flooring. Beds are extremely comfortable and we all slept very well. If you are seeking peace and quite this is the hotel for you. The restaurant serves excellent cuisine.We literally fell in love with the place and are planning to return very soon, and will definately be staying at the Hotel Cortese.

Sharon M - Holiday with friends

11-05-2016

Peter - 18-08-2015

Modern style hotel with really good restaurant

The cuisine is top, very nice restaurant service Modern style of the hotel

Peter - Couples holiday

18-08-2015

Jacek - 19-07-2015

Very good point to stay just outside the Lake

Very nice, clean, well organised with very good restaurant. Exceptional staff.

Jacek - Couples holiday

19-07-2015

Irene - 03-07-2015

Eccellente

The people at Hotel Cortese are incredibly friendly and helpful. They have a lot of suggestions for things to do, restaurants to go etc. The food and the service in the restaurant are very good. The rooms are comfortable.

Irene - Couples holiday

03-07-2015

Ann and Leon - 28-06-2015

Good mood and relaxing property

Public areas non-smoking including outdoor restaurant. Staff were very attentive. Marco was informative and efficient but also personable. Quiet surroundings and yet easy access to Lakes Maggiore and Orta. Good restaurant on site.

Ann and Leon - Couples holiday

28-06-2015

The Belgian Bruss ... - 18-08-2014

"Excellent restaurant and perfect to visit Orta and Maggiore”

OK, if you want to stay a long time in your room, this hotel is not your thing (room is just large enough for sleeping and refreshing yourself).But if you want to enjoy - the wonderful surroundings of the lake Orta and the lake Maggiore - a nic

OK, if you want to stay a long time in your room, this hotel is not your thing (room is just large enough for sleeping and refreshing yourself).But if you want to enjoy - the wonderful surroundings of the lake Orta and the lake Maggiore - a nice refreshing swim - a drink (or two) on the large terrace - a wonderful dinner in a very high quality restaurant reasonably priced, with a nice selection of wines - very good and friendly service - a good night sleep in a comfortable room this is just the perfect hotel.

The Belgian Bruss ... - Family holiday

18-08-2014

David W - 01-08-2014

Rain outside, sun inside !

Hotel very nice, clean, beautiful terrace to enjoy a peaceful aperitif and nice swimming pool. I found the staff particularly friendly, professionnal, smily and talkative. I would like to thank them again for their warm welcome, Brooke, Peter, Philip

Hotel very nice, clean, beautiful terrace to enjoy a peaceful aperitif and nice swimming pool. I found the staff particularly friendly, professionnal, smily and talkative. I would like to thank them again for their warm welcome, Brooke, Peter, Philippo and others whose names I don't know. Although the weather was not great the staff were so nice and so was the restaurant. Very good value for money and served with style. We enjoyed our stay and we recommend it highly.

David W - Holiday with friends

01-08-2014

Irene - 03-07-2014

Incredibly friendly

Irene - Family holiday

03-07-2014

Freek - 11-06-2014

Attentive staff

Very attentive staff thinking ahead of what you might want or need and remembering your preferences

Freek - Family holiday

11-06-2014

The Belgians Brussels - 18-08-2013

Excellent restaurant and perfect to visit Orta and Maggiore

The Belgians Brussels - Family holiday

18-08-2013

Bart M. - 03-08-2013

Surprising excellence

What a team, what a service ! This is a very charming hotel with an excelling team. Nice and very convenient. Perfectly fit between lago d'Orta and lago Maggiore. The restaurant team is so friendly and willing to help you discovering the local, typic

What a team, what a service ! This is a very charming hotel with an excelling team. Nice and very convenient. Perfectly fit between lago d'Orta and lago Maggiore. The restaurant team is so friendly and willing to help you discovering the local, typical drinks and specialties. Maitre Philippo is an ambassador for his team and presented us every night a marvelous dinner. Price / quality is very exceptional. Thank you Marco. We go back when we can.

Bart M. - Family holiday

03-08-2013

Eliana S - 21-07-2013

Wonderful Hotel Experience

My Boyfriend and I were at this gorgeous Hotel from 30/06 to 08/07/13. We can really recommend it! The staff is always friendly and try to help with a sincere with you in giving you a great stay. From the reception with: Marco, Claudia, Miriam, and

My Boyfriend and I were at this gorgeous Hotel from 30/06 to 08/07/13. We can really recommend it! The staff is always friendly and try to help with a sincere with you in giving you a great stay. From the reception with: Marco, Claudia, Miriam, and other guy whose name I don’t remember, to the restaurant with the amazing Maitre Filippo and the waiters Andrea , Brooke, and all the other staff.. The Hotel room and the facilities were so clean every single day (thanks Marcia and all of you (the breakfast and all the meals we had at the restaurant tasted very good), and we loved their minimalistic style in the bathrooms. The hotel is a very good choice if you like smaller hotels, it is very romantic with a beautiful garden, woods by one side of the swimming pool and mountains on the opposite side. The road was not a problem at all! The traffic is so little and it did not disturb our night sleeps in any way.We can definitely recommend Hotel Cortese and we will probably pass by another time we are in the Piedmont area.

Eliana S - Couples holiday

21-07-2013

21Challenger Wrexham - 02-07-2013

An Excellent Hotel near Orta

This is a hotel of a very high standard about 3 miles from Lake Orta. The accommodation, facilities, restaurant food etc are top class. All staff are very friendly and professional. Immaculately clean in all areas the hotel is good value for money. T

This is a hotel of a very high standard about 3 miles from Lake Orta. The accommodation, facilities, restaurant food etc are top class. All staff are very friendly and professional. Immaculately clean in all areas the hotel is good value for money. There is little in the immediate area of the hotel, so a car is pretty much essential

21Challenger Wrexham - Holiday with friends

02-07-2013

Astrid - 20-05-2013

Dolce Vita - definitely recommendable !

Very attentive, friendly and courteous hotel staff. The restaurant offers not only very good food, but also many regional specialities. The selection of italian wines is good, the knowledge of the staff food and drinks is helpful. The hotel is locate

Very attentive, friendly and courteous hotel staff. The restaurant offers not only very good food, but also many regional specialities. The selection of italian wines is good, the knowledge of the staff food and drinks is helpful. The hotel is located not directly at the lakes lago maggiore or lago di orta, however favorably in between in a quiet location. Without a car it is not so good. If you like to play golf, can from here from to many places to start. The outside areas are nice and welcoming. We will come back for sure.

Astrid - Couples holiday

20-05-2013

Fireworks Festival Lakes and Mountains

an unforgettable experience

New Year's Eve Package 2025: Love and Relax

Great "hiding place" :) with friendly hosts

What an amazing stay!

What an amazing stay!

Fantastic!!!

What a delightful hotel

I would definitely return

Hotel Cortese

Excellent

Great place out of the busy lago d'Orta

No reasons to leave the area

Comfortable rooms and great staff

Quiet location

The staff went above and beyond to help make our stay in Italy an interesting and enjoyable one

Excellent stay

Fabulous hotel

A peaceful retreat in the hills above Orta

Restaurant fabulous

Just PERFECT! They take good care of all the guests

A Hidden Gem

Super Hotel in a Super Location

Modern style hotel with really good restaurant

Very good point to stay just outside the Lake

Eccellente

Good mood and relaxing property

"Excellent restaurant and perfect to visit Orta and Maggiore”

Rain outside, sun inside !

Incredibly friendly

Attentive staff

Perfect !

Excellent restaurant and perfect to visit Orta and Maggiore

Surprising excellence

Wonderful Hotel Experience

An Excellent Hotel near Orta

Dolce Vita - definitely recommendable !