You
may not find this tangibly rewarding unless you're included here, so this is a
good time for casual and random browsers to turn back before they get too caught
up in the sweep and majesty of the proceedings and can't let go.
Views
of the Hotel Pironi, Cannobio, Italy
Here's
our home away from home for a few days, the extremely exceptional Albergo
Pironi in the village of Cannobio on the Lago Maggiore just over the Simplon
Pass. This lovely restoration is a 3-star upper-medium-priced, very comfortable
15th century palazzo, formerly a Franciscan monastery, that's still loaded down
with original frescoes, vaulted ceilings, medieval stone columns, and great views
out over the lake.
Prices
are a bit more than the campground at the edge of town, but not all that bad.
We peeled off 120 euros per night for the room, and in return got atmosphere,
cleanness, friendliness, historicalness, lake views, an elevator that we didn't
use since we're on a fitness kick, and a private parking place a few blocks away.
There's no restaurant in the Pironi, but there are about 85 wonderful restaurants
within a two minutes' walk and the Pironi's breakfast buffet, included with the
room price, makes eating lunch a work of supererogation.
The photo's
been taken from the loo, which in this room is one flight up.
Kristin
calling back to anyone who's still in the john: "Don't forget to turn off
the light."
The
main salon, with its pointy corner overlooking the street
A
landing between floors
Frescoes
in the breakfast room
and
more breakfast than you can shake a big shovel at.
The
other end of the breakfast room, with all of the best morning newspapers in Italian
and German.
Lago
Maggiore from our window
The
mainly pedestrian street in front of the Pironi
And
another view from the front. Visit the Pironi's
Web site, and then, if you can, visit the Pironi.
Dwight
Peck's personal Web site
Feedback and suggestions are welcome if positive, resented if negative, 
.
All rights reserved, all wrongs avenged. Posted 5 May 2005, revised 1 July 2008.
