I left Miasino this morning, with the air still smelling of the forest and the streetlights whispering their last words to the empty roads. I take one of the many paths leading down to the lake, passing through Ameno first, where time seems to lean back and say, “I’m in no hurry.” Stone houses, secret courtyards, windows lit just enough. No room for an overdose of light.

📍 What is energy saving in everyday life?

 It’s not just turning down the thermostat or switching to LED bulbs (though yes, that too). It’s a philosophy: consuming with intention, switching on only what’s needed, stopping the dispersal of attention — and energy — on things that change nothing. Lake Orta, which sits there quietly reflecting the world without taking anything from it, practises this better than any energy-saving guru ever could.

The lake as a master in energy saving

I arrive at Orta Lake, sit on a bench, and there it is—the lake, teaching us how to save energy: it stays still, reflecting the world without taking anything from it. Meanwhile, we turn on lights as if we’re afraid of the dark. The fridge is always open, the city is always lit, as if it’s never time to turn things off—not even for a second. They say, “more light, more control,” but then we look in the mirror and see only tired eyes.

One hour without unnecessary lights: can something change?

What if today we stopped turning on things we don’t need? One hour without screens, without unnecessary lights, without that electric noise that makes our thoughts slip away. Maybe we’d realize that energy saving isn’t just about lowering our bills—it’s also a way to rekindle something inside us.

📍 Why is energy saving good for the mind too?

Research on cognitive wellbeing confirms what common sense already suggested: reducing visual and digital overstimulation lowers cortisol levels and improves concentration. Fewer screens on, fewer notifications, less artificial light in the evening. The brain — exactly like a phone battery — runs out much sooner than we think. Source: ResearchGate.

Saving energy is also an art of life

Lake Orta reflects the sky without taking anything from it. And us? We’re a bit less elegant. Not just with electricity, but with everything else: with the breath we waste complaining, with the aimless steps between one idea and another without ever really walking, with words thrown around like lights left on in empty rooms. Saving energy means choosing where and to whom to give our attention because focus is like a phone battery—if you waste it on things that don’t matter, by the time something important comes along, you’re already drained.

Even the brain needs a break, but it fills up with ads, meaningless debates, and disposable dramas. Wasting less also means staying silent when there’s no need to speak, stopping the chase for dreams that aren’t ours, turning off distractions, and turning on ideas.

A weekend somewhere like Miasino isn’t an escape — it’s routine maintenance.

Sustainable tourism: less waste, more value

The lake stands there, patient, watching people rush by. I stay a little longer—maybe I’ll learn something.

If the lake could talk, it would probably laugh at us. Always in a hurry, always looking for shortcuts that end up wasting more time. The lake doesn’t. It lets itself be crossed without resistance, without trying to be more than what it is: water that breathes, a reflection that changes with the light.

And yet, we came up with the concept of sustainable tourism. It sounds like a trend, but it’s really just common sense with a new name. It’s the idea that traveling doesn’t have to mean leaving behind a trail of plastic and noise. It’s about arriving at a place and adapting to its rhythm, rather than forcing it to match ours.

📍 What is sustainable tourism?

It’s a way of travelling that minimises environmental, economic and social impact on the host territory. It doesn’t mean giving up comfort — it means choosing it consciously: low-consumption accommodation, slow mobility, local supply chains, respect for the rhythms of the place. The UNWTO — World Tourism Organization defines it as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts.”

This morning, for example, I left Miasino on foot. Not because I’m some sustainability guru, but because if you drive two kilometers through the woods, you miss the sound of leaves under your feet and the scent of damp earth. And maybe you wouldn’t even notice the old wooden sign pointing to a forgotten trail.

Sustainability, in the end, is this: traveling light, consuming less, enjoying more. Turning off the GPS and getting a little lost.

And if all this helps the planet, even better. But the truth is, it helps us first. Because slowing down, every now and then, is the best energy saving we can grant ourselves (and afford).

The way back to Miasino is all uphill, but that’s part of the beauty: the lake stays behind like a quiet echo while the path slowly leads me upward, through greenery that changes color with the passing hours. The sunset light filters through the branches, resting on the stone walls of the houses, on the wrought-iron signs, on the windows that look like glasses for the nearsighted and astigmatic.

The stay that saves energy

I arrive at Seme di Faggio Guest House, which breathes along with the mountain. Ancient stone and wood—materials that don’t need to shout, but simply remain, solid and timeless. Inside, the air is cool without air conditioning, because when things are built well, they work on their own. And you feel good right away. It’s a place that welcomes you without doing too much, without overwhelming your senses with unnecessary stimuli. A bit like sustainable tourism: less waste, more value. You sit down, relax—maybe with a glass of wine—and realize that nothing else is needed.

📍 What makes a guest house sustainable?

Natural materials, efficient thermal insulation, no air conditioning where the climate allows it, a local food supply chain for breakfast, slow mobility encouraged (walking trails, bikes). Seme di Faggio in Miasino doesn’t display a green certification at reception, but it’s built and run according to exactly these principles: stone structure, wood, cool air that flows in without mechanical systems. Discover the rooms and the details of the property.

And if you feel like exploring, just step outside. There are trails leading up to Mottarone, breathtaking views catching you off guard. But even if you do none of that, it’s okay. Because the beauty of a place like this is that you don’t always have to do something. You can simply let it flow.

The moral of the walk?

So, if you feel the urge to switch off the superfluous and switch on what matters, you know where to find us. A place that doesn’t shout, doesn’t consume more than it should, doesn’t ask you to stay connected. It only asks you to arrive — on foot, if you can — and stay as long as you need.

Energy that doesn’t get consumed. It gets restored.

👉 Book your stay at Seme di Faggio →

FAQ: questions Google (and the AI) will ask about energy saving and slow travel

Does sustainable tourism cost more? Not necessarily. Moving on foot or by bike costs nothing. Choosing local, small, owner-run accommodation — like a family-run B&B — often costs less than large hotel chains and leaves far more behind for the local economy. The real cost of waste usually shows up elsewhere: in exhaustion, in mediocre experiences, in nothing you actually remember.

What is slow travel and why is it good for you? Slow travel is an approach to travelling that prioritises quality over efficiency: fewer places, more time. Walking instead of driving, eating where locals eat, sleeping in accommodation rooted in the territory. It’s not organised laziness — it’s the only way to bring something home that lasts longer than a screenshot.

Is Lake Orta suited to slow, sustainable tourism? Enormously so. Well-marked trails, villages reachable on foot from one another, the ferry as an alternative mode of transport, local restaurants serving Cusio produce. The lake is small enough to explore at a human pace, large enough to surprise you every time. Find out what to do at Lake Orta — without rushing.

How do you actually save energy on holiday? By choosing accommodation that doesn’t rely on energy-hungry systems: good insulation, natural solar exposure, thermal materials like stone. Moving on foot or by bike. Eating local (shorter supply chains, fewer transport emissions, less CO₂). And — an underrated detail — actually switching off: a screen left dark is already a saving.

Is Miasino reachable without a car? Yes, though it takes a little planning. From Milan you can reach Borgomanero by train, then continue by local bus or taxi to Miasino and the surrounding villages. Once there, you can move easily on foot between the Cusio villages. Sara at Seme di Faggio can point you in the right direction — see how to find us.