- LAKES, FALLS, BEACHES
Mergozzo
Mergozzo is a town with just over 2,000 inhabitants and belongs to the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. The town overlooks the homonymous lake which is just a few kilometres from Lake Maggiore, and in particular from the Gulf of Borromeo and thus from Fondotoce and Feriolo. The town and lake are surrounded by mountains: on the one side Montorfano (800 metres) separates it from Toce Valley, and on the other the first hills begin (1,500 metres) in Grande Valley, such as the jagged Corni di Nibbio ridges.
Tourism in Mergozzo
The entire area surrounding Mergozzo is a natural galaxy of colours and shapes. Rugged summits and green woods reflected in the lake make for magnificent scenery, due to a marvellous pictorial effect whose colours and shades are skilfully mixed and juxtaposed. Indeed, guided excursions are often organised here.
Only a few kilometres separate Mergozzo and its lake from the Val Grande National Park.
The city’s symbol is the century-old elm which has been in the middle of the city’s main square on the shores of Lake Mergozzo since the 1600’s. The elm tree is one of Piedmont's monumental trees.
Beside the Parish Church of Beata Vergine Assunta is the beautiful, well-looked after Porticato delle Cappelle (portico) built in 1642. A little alley starts off from in front of the church with a long flight of stone steps called La Scarpia, which steeply winds up to the so-called district of Il Sasso, Mergozzo's oldest area with a pretty little cobblestone square and a small church dedicated to S. Elisabetta, and what was once a medieval castle (in the highest area).
The small Museum of Archaeology created in 1969 as the Antiquarium is also worth visiting. It illustrates the customs and traditions of the peoples living in this area since ancient times.
Mergozzo also has several hamlets such as Candoglia, which stands out for its marble quarry. It was a gift by the Sforza family to the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo: the marble extracted here was used to build the duomo in Milan. This marble is still used when the symbol of Milan requires renovating.
Mergozzo: events and entertainment
Mergozzo has a rich calendar of events, in particular during the summer, which culminates with the Festa Patronale dell’Assunta celebrating the patron saint on 15 August.
When strolling through the charming old town centre, be sure to taste fugascia or fugascina, a traditional sweet flat bread from Mergozzo once prepared during the celebrations for St. Elizabeth held on 4 July.
