Colmegna on Lake Maggiore: Village, Lakeside Paths and Church Art

Colmegna combines a historically shaped townscape with paths along the shore of Lake Maggiore. The old village consists of two historic centres: one lies near the small harbour, where a picturesque row of fishermen’s houses characterises the scene. The other is situated slightly higher up, around the Chiesa di Santa Caterina. If you explore the village on foot, you will encounter different facets between the harbour, village area and lake.

Chiesa di Santa Caterina and local architectural history

The Chiesa di Santa Caterina stands on an elevated church square at the edge of Colmegna and offers panoramic views of the central basin of Lake Maggiore. Its single-nave layout is complemented by two chapels on each side. The church also houses the painting “Lo sposalizio di nostro Signore con santa Caterina”. In 1748, Cardinal Giuseppe Pozzobonelli attributed it to the workshop of the Procaccini. The church’s architecture, location and artwork make it an important tangible reference point for your exploration of Colmegna’s cultural history.

Art Nouveau and Festa di S. Caterina

With Villa Carissimi, Colmegna has another historic building. The villa was built by Vincenzo Morandi between 1907 and 1909 and is considered Colmegna’s possibly most significant Art Nouveau building in the Luinese area. The traditional Festa di S. Caterina, held at the end of November, is also part of the local character. A large bonfire is lit on the lakeshore – a recurring event that connects the village’s history with community life.

Paths by the lake and into the hills

Several stretches of trail with different routes are central to planning your excursions. The Grand Tour del Lago Maggiore stage leads from Colmegna along a former road, now used by pedestrians, past the galleries to Maccagno Inferiore. The high variant of this stage begins at Lungolago Palazzi di Colmegna and leads up to an altitude of 520 metres, the highest point of the stage.

The Sentiero Belvedere also initially stays close to the water: the path follows the lakeshore for 100 metres towards Maccagno before branching uphill at a narrow point. Spiaggia di Colmegna is a public beach. You can reach it via the SS394 at the entrance to Colmegna; a large free car park is just a few steps from the shore.

Lake experiences and choosing your accommodation

Colmegna is one of the recommended diving sites in the Verbano area. If you are looking for a hotel or other accommodation in Colmegna, you can therefore base your decision on your own interests: the two old village centres, the Chiesa di Santa Caterina and Villa Carissimi represent history and architecture, while the lakeshore, beach and the paths described here enable various forms of exploration. The different routes also help you consciously plan your days between the shore and higher elevations.

More destinations

More destinations: Arsago Seprio, Busto Arsizio, Casorate Sempione, Vergiate, Maccagno, Porto Ceresio, Brezzo Di Bedero, Rasa Di Varese

To the higher-level travel overview: Varese.