IMPERIAL MACCAGNO 

Maccagno with Pino and Veddasca is today included among the most beautiful villages in Italy, thanks to its incredible experience as an "imperial fiefdom". Here, history stands alongside a present where the lake and its beaches provide visitors with opportunities for sport and relaxation

Maccagno with Pino and Veddasca is today included among theMost beautiful villages in Italy.Maccagno, in fact, is a fascinating and historic village overlooking the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, divided into two nuclei by the course of the Giona river: Maccagno Inferiore to the south, gathered around a quiet gulf, and Maccagno Superiore to the north, at the entrance to the green Val Veddasca.

This division has determined different destinies over the centuries. Maccagno Superiore followed the common fate of the Verbano area, entering the political and administrative orbit of Milan and its rulers. Maccagno Inferiore, on the other hand, enjoyed a unique destiny: around 1210 it became imperial fiefdom under the Mandelli family, directly linked to the Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV. This condition guaranteed the village a rare administrative, fiscal and jurisdictional autonomy, as well as the right to host a market and even mint its own currency.

This independence lasted almost six hundred years, until 1797, when Napoleon decreed the union of the small autonomous state with the Cisalpine Republic, putting an end to its singular feudal history.

Thanks to its rich past, Maccagno also fascinates for its architectural and landscape heritage, some traces of which can still be admired today: in the Lower Village, for example, the Contrada Maggiore stands out, with its houses leaning against each other, among narrow streets, the Imperial Tower and the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Punta, which overlooks the lake. The Upper Village, on the other hand, is more modern, is home to the Town Hall and offers a breathtaking panoramic view that embraces the lake up to the Borromean Gulf.

Maccagno is therefore a place where history, nature and beauty blend together, giving visitors an authentic and evocative experience on Lake Maggiore.

Website: https://www.maccagnoimperiale.it/  

THE BEACHES

The territory of Maccagno with Pino and Veddasca hosts some of the most beautiful and suggestive beaches in the area, ideal for families, sportsmen and nature lovers.

Among the largest and best equipped there is Jonah Park, in the heart of Maccagno, a few steps from the center. Its large pebble and lawn beach offers a splendid view of the Cannero castles and is perfect for a day outdoors. It has toilets, showers, sports areas (basketball, beach volleyball, skate park), a play area for children and a bar-restaurant open every day.

The more secluded and quiet is the Ronco delle Monache beach, located after the tunnels, along the road that leads to the Swiss border. Less frequented but easily accessible thanks to the nearby parking, it offers crystal clear waters and a relaxing panorama, ideal for those looking for a quiet corner immersed in nature.

Going north, in addition to numerous small coves that offer almost uncontaminated spaces, perfect for those seeking tranquility, there is the beach of Lido di Zenna, the first one you encounter in Italian territory while arriving from Switzerland. Made up of small pebbles, it is perfect for lying in the sun in peace. Also suitable for families, it is flanked by a green area with games for children.