What to see and what to do in Castelveccana

Castelveccana is a town in the province of Varese overlooking the northernmost part of the Lombard shore of Lake Maggiore between Laveno Mombello and Porto Valtravaglia, just 20 km away from the Swiss border.

The current town dates back to 1928 with the annexation of Veccana to the ancient town of Castello Valtravaglia. The municipality now has almost 2000 inhabitants and 11 hamlets.

The town was already inhabited in the Iron Age, as the hamlet of Sarigo still documents, the best preserved rustic corner, where there are several stone houses. Sarigo also has a Romanesque church dedicated to San Giorgio that retains the original apse and bell tower.

The portion of Castelveccana overlooking the shores of the lake corresponds to the hamlet of Caldè: this area is certainly the most sought after in the summer by tourists looking for relaxation and refreshment.
It is no coincidence that Caldè is often called "The Portofino of Lake Maggiore".

Thanks to its crystal clear water, its beach and its bars and restaurants overlooking the small and intimate lakefront, Caldè is a renowned tourist and seaside resort on Lake Maggiore. The hamlet of Castello, on the other hand, extends inland and is protected at the rear by the Lombard Prealps with peaks such as Monte Nudo, Monte Teggia and Passo del Cuvignone, a pass at 1000 meters above sea level between Valcuvia and the Luino area along the provincial road. 8.

This green and wooded area is loved by trekking or mountain biking enthusiasts because of the numerous hiking trails present.

The Cuvignone Pass is known to cyclists for its challenging climb, which can be climbed directly from Cittiglio or Porto Valtravaglia. The climb has been used at a competitive level as training, since the time of Alfredo Binda precisely because of its technical and demanding level. The pass has an average gradient of 8.2% starting from Cittiglio, while it drops to 7.2% if you start from Porto Valtravaglia.

The pass is also famous in the automotive world, as since the 1980s it has been the most selective timed section of the "ACI Varese rally", today the "Rally dei Laghi".

What should be seen and visited in Castelveccana

Castelveccana lakefront

The hamlet of Caldè is very popular in the summer months by tourists and locals. It offers several sandy and pebble beaches overlooking the crystal clear waters of the lake.

There is also a large car park, a nautical school, a small marina and some bars and restaurants. Behind Caldè is the railway station which allows you to reach the hamlet also by train.

Rocca and Church of Santa Veronica

Behind Caldè, an imposing fortress dominated by a small church certainly does not go unnoticed: it is the church of Santa Veronica from which you can enjoy an extraordinary view of the lake and the Piedmontese shore up to the Alpine peaks.

You can reach the church of Santa Veronica on foot from the Caldè car park following a path indicated by the signs present: go along and then cross the watercourse. Then you come to a steep path with steps that quickly climbs up to the church. Alternatively, you can also start from the Castello hamlet. The church was built in the thirteenth century inside the fortified enclosure of the Travaglia fortress (now the Caldè fortress).

After the destruction of the fort by the Swiss in 1513, only faint traces remain. The church preserves the semicircular apse from the Romanesque age canonically facing east.

Froda waterfalls

The Froda Waterfalls are among the most beautiful waterfalls in the Varese province. The path that leads to the falls starts from the hamlet of Nasca, from which you must then continue along the road to Sant’Antonio.

After approximately 1 km you will find the signs for the Froda waterfalls on the right. It takes approximately 30 minutes and is surrounded by greenery. Features are the former construction of the stockpile for trout breeding and the nine miles along the creek. After crossing a narrow iron bridge, you arrive at an amphitheater dug in the rock by the waters that descend from Monte Cuvignone after a leap of almost 100 meters.

Caldè furnaces

In Caldè, there are old kilns where limestone has been baked to obtain limestone. Lime was then used as a binder in the construction sector, as a disinfectant and disinfectant in the tanning of leather and as a fertilizer in agriculture.

A part of this lime was also used for the construction of the Duomo of Milan, this to testify that the origins of this productive activity date back to many centuries ago. Next to the ovens there were all the accessory structures such as warehouses for storage, weighing and loading / unloading systems. Proximity to the lake was sought precisely because the lake's waters were the primary means of transportation for this equipment.

Lake Maggiore is full of furnaces such as those of Caldè: they are also found in Ispra, Germignaga or Mesenzana, but unfortunately they all turn into a state of terrible abandonment and are therefore closed to the public due to the very precarious security conditions. The same applies to the Caldè kilns: the lime production activity ended in 1969, the year of the final closure of the kilns. The Cometti family, the historical owner, had already sold the company to the Pennacchi family in Rome, who still owns it.

The area is now closed to the public with a door although it hides an important historical, architectural and naturalistic heritage. Over the years, various safety projects have been advanced for the development and redevelopment of the area: we hope that one of these will finally be implemented in a sustainable perspective and in full respect of the surrounding environment.

What to do in and around Castelveccana

There are many beaches in Castelveccana. In addition to those of the Caldè lakefront, along the road that leads to Castelveccana there are other indications to reach small bays or inlets: an example of this is the second and third public beach docks or the more famous Cinque Arcate beach, which is not far away. Following the tunnels which lead from Laveno Mombello to Castelveccana. This is a small pebble and gravel beach that is very popular for diving since the water is clear and the bottom of the sea quickly becomes high.

Go on a drive to Laveno Mombello or Luino which are the main coastal towns near Castelveccana.

You can reach the Piedmontese coast, the Borromean Islands and the Cannero castles by boat. Castelveccana is not directly connected to the Navigazione Laghi, but you can start with the surrounding municipalities.

Go to Laveno-Mombello and take the double-berthed cable car to the top of Monte Sasso del Ferro. Also nearby Castelveccana there are a lot of really interesting hiking trails.

Tips about where to sleep in Castelveccana

These are just some of the accommodation facilities in Castelveccana. You can find all the hotels, B & Bs and campsites where you can spend a stay or a holiday in Castelveccana on Lake Maggiore here.

How to get to Castelveccana

• by car: from Milan via the A8, exit at Sesto Calende / Vergiate: from here it is possible to take the coastal road (first SS33 and then SP69) going up the Lombard shore of the lake up to Castelveccana
• by train: the railway station of reference is that of Caldè along the Milan-Luino section managed by the Ferrovie Nord. It therefore remains further out than the hamlet of Castello (20-25 min on foot)