Maccagno on Lake Maggiore: Village, Culture and Lakeshore

Maccagno combines the history of two districts with the landscape of Lake Maggiore. The Giona River divides the town into Maccagno Superiore and Maccagno Inferiore. This allows you to experience different sides of the same destination: in Borgo Inferiore, narrow lanes run between closely spaced houses through historic structures, while Borgo Superiore offers panoramic views across the lake as far as the Borromean Gulf.

Culture between River and Lake

A central cultural point of interest is the Museo Civico Parisi Valle. The museum spans the Giona River and was designed by the architect Maurizio Sacripanti. Inside, there is a collection of contemporary paintings and sculptures donated to the municipality of Maccagno by Giuseppe Vittorio Parisi, as well as a permanent archaeological exhibition. The infopoint for Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca is also located there, at the Museo Civico Parisi Valle, Viale Leopoldo Giampaolo 1, 21061 Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca (VA).

Borgo Inferiore and Historic Traces

Contrada Maggiore in Borgo Inferiore is characterized by houses standing closely together along narrow lanes. One of the notable buildings is the Torre Imperiale. The Santuario della Madonna della Punta is also located in Borgo Inferiore and faces directly towards the lake. The sanctuary has been documented in records since the 16th century and acquired its present form towards the end of the 18th century.

The history of Maccagno Inferiore is also linked to special rights. The town was elevated to an imperial fief, that is, a privileged fief with a special connection to the emperor, and had the right to mint coins in its own mint. The former mint was located in a building directly on the lake at today's Piazza Roma. At the Porto della Gabella, boats travelling on Lake Maggiore once had to stop to pay a goods duty.

Lakeshore, Beaches and Views

Maccagno offers various waterfront and village settings for planning your days. Parco Giona in the centre has a beach of pebbles and grass with views of the Castelli di Cannero. Ronco delle Monache beach lies beyond the tunnels on the road to the Swiss border. Together with the view from Borgo Superiore, this creates a broad landscape encompassing the lakeshore, historic districts and prominent points on the water.

Regattas, Swimming and Local Festivals

Events on the lake are also part of Maccagno's character. The ninth Traversata dei Castelli took place on Sunday, 3 August 2025, starting at Lido di Maccagno. The open-water swimming courses run from Lido di Maccagno around the Castelli di Cannero. On 15 August 2025, Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca hosted the historic international Regata del Canalone. The regatta reached its 60th edition; world champions and America's Cup sailors took part.

The Regata del Canalone consists of a single race along the lake section of the same name and is open to dinghies, catamarans, keelboats and yachts. The traditional Festa della Gabella offers a different focus, combining good food and musical entertainment on the Lungolago Girardi. For days devoted to culture, Maccagno Imperiale complemented the programme with guided tours of the medieval village. Departures from Piazza Santo Stefano were listed at 10:00, 10:20, 10:40, 11:00, 11:20 and 11:40; there were also educational stalls featuring medieval craftspeople in the streets, courtyards and squares.

Routes with Different Levels of Difficulty

The “Salto dell’acqua” route starts in Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca on Lake Maggiore, passes by Lago Delio and continues to Passo della Forcora at an elevation of 1,179 m. This also makes it possible to combine your choice of location with a planned route that brings together lakeside and mountain landscapes in one itinerary. Those primarily looking for museums, village structures and historic sites will find a different focus in Borgo Inferiore and at the Museo Civico Parisi Valle than along the waterfront or on the route into the hinterland.

More Destinations for Your Travel Planning

If you would like to compare Maccagno with other destinations, also discover Lavena Ponte Tresa, Lonate Pozzolo, Rasa Di Varese, Brissago-Valtravaglia, Capolago, Colmegna, Induno Olona and Ispra.

For the higher-level travel overview: Varese.