What to see, what to do and where to sleep in Baveno on the Piedmontese shore of Lake Maggiore

What to see and what to do in Baveno

A town of approximately 5,000 inhabitants, Baveno stands on the shores of Lake Maggiore in Piedmont and is a center rich in history, traditions and culture.

Since ancient times it has been an important trading port that connected Ossola and the Alpine territories with the main Lombard cities, Venice and Genoa.

In the nineteenth century, thanks to the development of communication routes, Baveno was transformed into a sought-after place of passage for those coming from the North or for those returning there, while the advent and strengthening of the railways included Baveno in the international tourism circuit.

What should be seen and visited in Baveno

Church of S.S Gervaso e Protaso

The Romanesque architecture dated 1150-75 with gneiss roof and the earlier bell tower (1050-1075) with six floors with a square plan, have an interior resulting from various interventions with 15th century frescoes, altar frontals in the side chapels, two tables attributed to Defendente Ferrari and an Annunciation by Camillo Procaccini.

Baptistery

The building, dating from the 5th century, has a square outdoors and octagonal indoors. Marvelous frescoes dating from the early sixteenth century adorn the lantern and the vault while the walls are painted in frescoes in the nineteenth century.

The Domo and Baitone districts

The two neighborhoods of Domo and Baitone which make up the center of Baveno, present suggestive views that are worth the detour. From the church square you can see via Domo, the narrow street that connects the church of Santi Gervaso e Protaso with the charming square of the ancient village of Domo, where you can admire a low building with a high fireplace, perhaps a community oven. Opposite there is an ancient chapel with a fresco depicting the Virgin, erected as an ex voto for the release of the plague in 1630. In the background is the picturesque Morandi house. Walking next to the bakery, a small road leads to the lakefront, for more than 1.4 kilometers of promenade to enjoy the gardens and the view of Laveno.

Flowerbed "The lake and the mountain"

The work, designed by the architect Fabrizio Bianchetti, takes on an important significance to characterize the resources of the territory of the area. It contains a series of vertical stone slabs that recall the profile of a mountain, made with the most important stones of the province: Beola Argentea, Green Granite from Mergozzo, Pink Granite from Baveno and White Granite from Montorfano.

What to do in and around Baveno

take one of the itineraries on foot: you are spoiled for choice because the Baveno itineraries will satisfy all needs and interests: from the historical-archaeological walk, to the granite path or the villas, up to the paths that connect Baveno to villages in the surroundings. All of them are listed on the city's tourist website.
visit the Special Nature Reserve of Fondotoce: it is an environment of rare beauty, protected by the Piedmont Region and placed under the protection of the Management Body of Parks and Nature Reserves of Lake Maggiore which extends from the camping area north of Feriolo, for 365 hectares. Perfect for cycling too
visit Feriolo: which is a pretty town just 3 km from Baveno. It is located in a natural bay of rare beauty. The small village of fishermen and stonecutters was an important commercial center for local products (fish, cheese, hay, firewood) and a place of processing and embarkation of the famous marbles and granites of the area: the Candoglia marble, the white of Ornavasso, the white granite of Montorfano and the pink of Baveno.

Tips about where to sleep in Baveno

These are just some of the accommodation facilities in Baveno You can find all the hotels, B & Bs and campsites where you can spend a stay or a holiday in Baveno on Lake Maggiore here.

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