LAVENO AND ITS GULF
Nestled in the gulf facing Verbania and overlooked by the Sasso del Ferro, the town of Laveno Mombello offers unique views and opportunities between history and tradition
Even theThe lakeside promenade of Laveno offers one of the most fascinating walks on the Lombard shore of Lake Maggiore.
From Parco Gaggetto, a large green area located near the Laveno train station, a panoramic path winds along the water and accompanies visitors to the elegant Hotel De Charme, located right in front of Porto Labieno, the nautical heart of the town, a mooring point for sailing and motor boats.
Between vestiges still linked to the history of the country and buildings with a more contemporary style, this walk gives visitors the best of itself especially at sunset, thanks to the warm light that colors the waters of the lake and the profiles of the mountains, creating a romantic and unforgettable atmosphere.
From here, the view can sweep across the wide gulf of Laveno until it catches, on the opposite shore, the elegant outline of Verbania, nestled on the Piedmont coast. It is precisely from here, from the Laveno pier, that ferries depart for the city, offering an additional opportunity to explore the area.
During Christmas time, in Piazza Caduti del Lavoro, you can admire the submerged nativity scene: a group of 42 white stone statues depicting the characters of the Nativity, from the Holy Family to the shepherds, who every year are lowered into the waters of the lake, offering a suggestive spectacle full of tradition.
NAVIGATION
The only direct ferry connection between the Lombardy and Piedmont shores of Lake Maggiore is active between Laveno Mombello and Verbania-Intra.
The ferries can transport not only people, but also cars and motorcycles, thus allowing citizens and tourists to continue their journey on the opposite bank without having to circumnavigate part of the Verbano, with a crossing lasting about twenty minutes.
From Intra, you can then take the other available boats to discover other pearls of Lake Maggiore, such as the Borromean Islands, Villa Taranto or the cities of Stresa and Arona.
During the summer season there is also a direct boat connection from Laveno to the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso di Leggiuno, one of the most evocative places to admire: a monastery nestled in the rock, overlooking Lake Maggiore, which attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Information on times and tickets: https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/biglietti-e-orari-lago-maggiore/
THE SASSO DEL FERRO
From the centre of Laveno Mombello, a charming ski lift – the historic cableway/gondola lift with open and closed cabins – takes you gently in about 15 minutes to the "Poggio Sant'Elsa" locality, at around 1,100 metres above sea level, on Mount Sasso del Ferro.
A panoramic journey to be experienced in the silence of nature, between woods and sky, with a difference in altitude of over 700 meters that culminates in a spectacular 360-degree view from Lake Maggiore to the unmistakable outline of Monte Rosa, admiring the other lakes in the area and extending your gaze to the Po Valley. On clear days you can also see Malpensa airport and even the spires of Milan Cathedral.
Upon arrival, the experience is enriched by a panoramic terrace perfect for relaxing, where you can sunbathe, watch paragliders and hang gliders fly, or simply enjoy the view while having refreshments at the bar or restaurant, or spending one or more nights in the hotel at the summit.
Sasso del Ferro is also an excellent starting point for hiking or mountain biking, with trails suitable for all levels and the possibility of transporting bikes with the ski lift.
Today, with modern safety standards, the Laveno cable car is a jewel in the crown of Varese tourism, ideal for those seeking nature, excitement and breathtaking views in a single experience.
VILLA FRUA
In the heart of the historic center of Laveno Mombello stands Villa De Angeli Frua, an elegant eighteenth-century residence surrounded by a lush park overlooking the lake and today home to the town hall and library.
Built in the mid-18th century by the noble Tinelli family, the villa passed in 1896 to Senator Ernesto De Angeli, brother-in-law of the textile industrialist Giuseppe Frua.
The villa, with its U-shaped plan, keeps its original neoclassical charm, evident in the monumental portal, the smooth ashlar and the architectural decorations. Over time, it has also been a lively cultural center: in the 1970s, for example, its rooms hosted the works of internationally renowned artists such as Valerio Adami and Lucio Fontana.
The park that surrounds it, now public, is an ideal place for a relaxing walk among centuries-old plants and species typical of the lake landscape.
One of the illustrious guests of Villa Frua was Giuseppe Garibaldi who in 1862, returning from the Expedition of the Thousand, visited it and looked out from the balcony overlooking the square to address the people.
THE FORTE CASTELLO
In the heart of Laveno Mombello, surrounded by the Torrazze Park, stands the Forte Castello. This imposing military complex represents the fulcrum of the defensive system built in the 19th century by the Habsburg Empire, which transformed Laveno into a naval and strategic base on Lake Maggiore.
Built between 1850 and 1858 on the remains of a pre-existing medieval garrison, the fort still keeps its ancient crenellated walls, a cross-shaped plan typical of military structures of the time and a small interior in Austro-Hungarian style.
At the centre of the complex stands a crenellated tower, rebuilt in the decades following the famous Battle of 1859, when the Alpine Hunters led by Garibaldi attempted – unsuccessfully – to conquer the fort. Its reconstruction was supervised by Francesco Pullè,ethnographer-linguist who decided to plant the hill with over 36,000 trees.
Situated in a panoramic position on the promontory that closes the Gulf of Laveno to the north, the fort offers a spectacular view: from here the gaze embraces Lake Maggiore and reaches the Alps, from the Simplon to the Gotthard.
