- CHIESE, SANTUARI, LUOGHI E PERCORSI SACRI
Porto Valtravaglia
Porto Valtravaglia is a pretty town with almost 2,500 inhabitants, rising on the shore of Lake Maggiore between Laveno and Luino. It includes county town Porto and several hamlets. While the county town has developed on the lakeside, the hamlets are located on the headland above.
History of Porto Valtravaglia
The presence of man in Porto Valtravaglia is documented as far back as the Iron Age. The Romans reached the area before the period of Augustus and stayed here until the 4th century, when they began the barbarian raids which resulted in the Longobardic dominion.
After the Medieval period and that of the seigniories, the town experienced its most important period in the 1700’s, when local entrepreneurship extolled the hardworking citizens. From this moment on, the inhabitants in Porto Valtravaglia were known as mezarat or bats, the people of the night, due to the frequent night shifts in the various local factories.
It also started to become a holiday resort during this time and in the following century, experienced intense industrial development (of which few marks remain).
Tourism in Porto Valtravaglia
It's quite interesting to see the intact old public washhouses (with their original features) in Porto Valtravaglia and its hamlets.
Porto’s lakeside promenade is a treasure with beautiful 17th-century buildings. The Church of San Rocco is also from the same period, although it was built starting with a chapel back in 1523. The Romanesque Church of S. Maria Assunta is also worth a visit, and is now joined with the homonymous Church of Domo.
The hamlet of Domo, which is located in the hinterland, has a series of sacred buildings which are part of a sacred complex. These are the San Giovanni baptistery from the Carolingian period, the very old Church of Santo Stefano which is currently encompassed by private dwellings, and the Romanesque Church of S. Maria Assunta dating back between 1000-1100 and home to a valuable 16th-century organ. An important musical event is also held here.
The ancient little Church of San Michele al Monte is also worth visiting.
