Lake's District Guide

It is known for its marble quarries, where the raw material used ofr the Arch of Peace columns and the church of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan came from. The Gothic St. Pietro and Paolo's parish church, represents a very interesting work of art: it was built in the XVI century on a pre-existent Romanesque building: the decorated glasses of the windows and of the rose-window of the apse, dating back to 1526 are particularly valuable. Going on along the valley, before arriving in Varzo, 568 metres high, you reach a still uncontaminated, wild environment.

The historical centre of the village winds through a net of narrow lanes, which lead to the Romanesque church of St. Giorgio, placed at the head of a flight of stairs.

Inside the church there are some sixteenth century frescoes and a valuable walnut pulpit dating back to 1630. 12 Kilometres from Varzo there is St. Domenico, a modern holidays resort on the top of a hill (1420 metres high) close to the natural park of Veglia Alp and to the ski-area of Ciamporino, reachable by chair-lift. Walking on, along the “flowers path” or along a dirt road, you arrive at the natural park of Veglia Alp.

Starting from Varzo and passing through Solcio Alp you can reach Trasquera, a panoramic place at the slope of Teggiolo Mount.

Texts and images are published with courtesy of

Lake Tourist District Scrl - corso Italia 18

Stresa (VB)