What to see and what to do in Maccagno

Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca is a town in the province of Varese on the Lombard coast of Lake Maggiore. It is one of the last Lombard municipalities before the Swiss border.

Until a few years ago the territory of Maccagno was the only one involved. However, on 1 December 2013 a referendum took place which led to the unification of the municipalities of Maccagno, Pino sulla Sponda del Lago Maggiore and Veddasca. The merger officially took place on February 4, 2014. Today this municipality has 20 hamlets.

It offers direct access to Lake Maggiore with beautiful beaches such as Ronco delle Monache and Parco Giona. At the same time it represents the closing municipality of Val Veddasca, the valley through which the Giona stream flows from Switzerland to Lake Maggiore.

The Giona torrent crosses Maccagno and then flows into Lake Maggiore: behind the town there is also a small hydroelectric power station from Enel.

What should be seen and visited in Maccagno

Sanctuary of the Madonna della Punta

The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Punta stands in a beautiful panoramic position overlooking the waters of Lake Maggiore. From the churchyard, which can be reached via a cobbled street, you can enjoy an extraordinary view. The church, documented only from the 16th century, soon took on the reputation of a sanctuary and was subjected to continuous revisions, receiving its current layout at the end of the 18th century. The complex impresses from afar for the position in which it stands and for its size.

Various ceremonies are linked to the church, in particular on the occasion of the Annunciation and the Assumption on 14 August evening and it is very popular for weddings. Unfortunately it is often closed as the main ceremonies are carried out in other churches in the municipality such as the Church of San Materno.

Parisi Valle Museum

Parisi Valle Museum is housed inside a bridge built over Giona Creek. The museum houses a permanent collection of contemporary art and organizes quality exhibits thanks to the attentive care of local administrators.

The idea of setting up a museum in Maccagno dates from 1977. Giuseppe Vittorio Parisi, an artist born in Maccagno in 1915, who has been working for years as a teacher and as a visual research operator, returns for a holiday on Lake Maggiore and is fascinated by it. . Thanks to the donation of the Parisi-Valle couple to the Municipality of Maccagno and the contribution of the Province of Varese, the cultural center "Parisi-Valle Foundation" was established.

Delio Lake

Lake Delio is a small body of water which lies in the municipality of Maccagno on the border with Tronzano Lago Maggiore, near the Swiss border. It stands at an altitude of 930 meters above sea level and has an area of 0.485 km2.

The origin of the lake is glacial excavation, however, human action with the subsequent construction of two containment dams has greatly altered the original appearance of the lake.

The lake lies at an equal distance (about 10 km) from Maccagno to the Italian-Swiss border. It is reachable from Maccagno by Provincial Road 5. The waters of the lake are used to generate electricity thanks to a power plant that constantly changes its level.

Near the south dam there is a convenient parking for cars, a picnic area equipped with grills and a field for shooting, while near the north dam there is a hotel restaurant overlooking the northernmost branch of Lake Maggiore.

What to do in and around Maccagno

• Beaches of Maccagno: Maccagno offers two very popular beaches during the summer: Parco Giona beach and Ronco delle Monache. The Parco Giona beach is one of the largest along the Lombardy coast. It consists of pebbles and grass and is equipped with a beach volleyball and basketball court, a skatepark and a children's playground. There are many plants beneath which to find shaded areas and in summer there is also a small kiosk. The beach Ronco delle Monache lies after the tunnels of Maccagno: it is more intimate and smaller
• Rock gym "IL Cinzanino": for lovers of rock climbing, Maccagno also has a rock gym. You can climb comfortably (level 4 to 7), it is well served and indicated. It definitely offers a magnificent view over Lake Maggiore

Tips about where to sleep in Maccagno

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

How to get to Maccagno

Maccagno can be reached:

• 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. 6 km after Luino you reach Maccagno
• by train: it is also possible to reach Maccagno by train from Luino with a single stop using the Swiss railway line. The trains of the Ferrovie Nord go as far as Luino

Maccagno is among the towns of Lake Maggiore closest to Switzerland. From Maccagno you can easily reach Locarno within 35 km and the islands of Brissago within 42 km.

Going down the Lombard bank, in 6 km you will arrive in Luino from where you can take the boats of the Navigazione Laghi to reach Cannero and other coastal villages.

There are many paths and hiking trails that connect Maccagno with other small mountain towns: among the most recommended are the paths of Alpe Pradecolo that lead to the top of Monte Lema, the Path of the Sun and the Moon in Agra and the walks that lead to the mills of Piero di Curiglia and the small village of Monteviasco.