Castelveccana

Architecturally, the most valuable site in Castelveccana is that of the Rocca di Travaglia. Dating back to the 10th century, the actual fort was destroyed by the Swiss in 1513. Today only a few remnants remain, such as parts of the enclosure wall and an ancient protective moat. Where the castle once stood, there is now a tower-lighthouse built in 1923, the so-called Sailors' Monument, a memorial building dedicated to sailors lost during the Great War. This peculiar and striking artifact has a pyramidal shape, similar to that of an obelisk, and is surrounded by stairs on each side. Inside, a marble plaque commemorates the names of all the fallen of Castelveccana.

At the foot of the fortress site, however, on the lake side, one can still admire the lime kilns, an impressive testimony to industrial archaeology. They were in operation for many centuries, from the 13th century until the early 19th century.

From the hamlet of Nasca, on the other hand, starts the path leading to the Froda Waterfalls: it is about a 30-minute path through the woods, skirting the stream and along which as many as nine mills rise. At the end, you come to a kind of amphitheater in the rock, which serves as a stage for what are called the most beautiful waterfalls in the province of Varese, and which make a leap of almost 100 meters.

Castelveccana enjoys a reserved location, far from large population centers. By car, however, it is possible to reach two famous localities on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore: Luino and Laveno Mombello.

Luino offers several walking possibilities: on the pleasant lakefront, but also along the narrow streets of the historic center, which run now toward the lake, now toward the mountain. There are several interesting buildings, but they languish in a kind of romantic decadence. Outside the center, but in a prime position and somewhat elevated above the lake, is the Santuario del Carmine, founded in 1477, which has 16th-century frescoes and stucco decorations.

In the municipality of Laveno-Mombello, consisting mainly of the villages of Laveno and Mombello, on the other hand, it is possible to take the gondola to the summit of Mount Sasso del Ferro, from which one of the most beautiful views of Lake Maggiore can be admired, sweeping even as far as Lake Varese on fine days. In the small and quiet historic center, Villa De Angeli Frua, an 18th-century aristocratic residence, is worth a visit; while, in the hamlet of Cerro, there is the Midec - Museo Internazionale del Design Ceramico, housed in Palazzo Perabò, an aristocratic house now owned by the municipality.

Two bike routes pass through the municipality of Castelveccana that we recommend for their great beauty and views of Lake Maggiore:

• the Monte della Colonna loop tour, starting and ending in Luino, which unfolds along military roads important during World War I;
• the route from Luino to Laveno over the Cuvignone Pass, passing through Valcuvia. This is a historic cycling tour of the province of Varese. The arrival in Laveno, on the shores of the lake, ensures the possibility of unforgettable views.