What to see and what to do in Oggebbio

Oggebbio is a small town, located in the Alto Verbano area, between Ghiffa and Cannero, of just 900 inhabitants, which however extends over an area of 20 square kilometers. This is because the municipal territory includes within it 15 different villages united under the same municipality.

All of this suggests the great variety of attractions that this small town can offer.

Places to see and to visit in Oggebbio

Parish church of S. Pietro

Oggebbio is dominated by the bell tower of the parish church of S. Pietro di Gonte, the main village, which with its 42 meters is the highest in the Upper Verbano. It was a chapel of the parish church of S. Vittore di Intra from which it separated in 1606.

Villa Anelli

Villa Anelli is a private garden, a splendid example of landscape architecture from the Romantic era and now houses a rich collection of camellias, recognized worldwide. It was built in 1872 along the rocky slopes of the Paradiso Valley. The garden went through different stages of conception until it welcomed the cultivars of camellia from the second half of the twentieth century. Today, these flowers make valuable corners of verdant and winding paths interrupted by the sound of ancient fountains.

Oratories of Santa Maria and Sant'Agata

In the Gonte-Cadessino hamlet there is an oratory dedicated to Santa Maria or Madonna della Misericordia, built between the 13th and 14th centuries on the site of a pre-existing 11th century church of which the bell tower remains. Remodeled over the course of the following centuries, the church retains two cycles of fifteenth-century frescoes and a beautiful high altar that is a splendor of polychrome marble. In a niche you can admire a beautiful wooden statue of the Immaculate Virgin.

In the hamlet of Novaglio, on the hill overlooking the lake, the Oratory of Sant’Agata stands. The Romanesque structure was incorporated in the 14th century in an extension that created the upstream façade, with the addition of Gothic and Renaissance elements. A legend tells that this Ecclesia campestris antiqua (1590) is one of the hundred churches built in the 4th century by Saints Julius and Julian who spread Christianity in the Novarese and Verbano lands.

Port of Spasolo

The ancient port of Spazzolé (Spasolo), equipped with a hospice for travelers in the 14th century, was the site of intense lake traffic for centuries. At the turn of the last century the port of Spasolo, now adequately renovated, was a meeting place for the people of Oggebbio as the boat allowed the transit of men and goods in Verbania and then, by rail, in Milan. The boat was conceived as an umbilical cord with the world.

Things to do in Oggebbio and its surroundings

• go hiking: there are numerous hiking trails that lead to the beaches and hamlets; or you can make use of paths and ancient mule tracks traced in the past to connect mountain pastures and villages, which cross the woods and which allow you to admire the many terraces that were built to cultivate vines, rye and fodder
• take the boat to visit the Borromean Islands: a boat trip is certainly the best way to transform your trip on Lake Maggiore into a unique and unforgettable experience. The major attraction of the gulf, however, is constituted by the famous Borromean islands: Isola Bella, with the noble Palazzo Borromeo and the Italian gardens, created with exuberant Baroque imagination; Isola Madre, loved for its lush vegetation, rare plants, exotic flowers, peacocks, and parrots in the wild; Isola dei Pescatori, which houses a picturesque village; finally, the islet of San Giovanni, the only one that cannot be visited
• visit Cannero Riviera: Cannero Riviera stands on a promontory north of Verbania which, thanks to a natural bay, enjoys the enviable privilege of being sheltered from the cold winter winds. The very mild climate allows the growth of a luxuriant Mediterranean vegetation characterized by citrus fruits, palms, olive trees and, during the spring season, favors the early blossoming of the famous camellias which, combined with rhododendrons and azaleas, transform the country into a luxuriant one every year. flowered balcony overlooking the lake. It is possible to stroll through the typical medieval alleys and discover ancient residences or picturesque views such as the one represented by the small port carved into the rock. Today the stately homes of Massimo D’Azeglio and patriot Laura Solera Mantegazza are still visible. Famous for their adventurous history are the Castles of Cannero, which stand on two islets a short distance from the shore
• visit Ghiffa: placed on a small promontory, Ghiffa enjoys a fabulous view of a large stretch of lake. The very mild climate, the richness of the spontaneous vegetation and the polychromy of the gardens that surround the numerous villas (including the one built by the Russian prince Troubetzkoy) make the village very pleasant. The Natural Reserve of the Sacro Monte della Santissima Trinità di Ghiffa stretches between the slopes of Mount Carciago. The surface of the Reserve is entirely covered with woods, with the exception of the Baroque monumental complex that rises in the Sacro Monte, where there is the Sanctuary dedicated to the SS. Trinity, three chapels and the portico of the Via Crucis. Wandering through the woods it is then possible to find some cute little animals: perhaps a squirrel, a fox or a hedgehog
• visit Cannobio: located on the north-western shore of Lake Maggiore, Cannobio is the first Piedmontese town you come across when coming from Switzerland. Its border position has influenced its historical events, but at the same time has favored the growth of a flourishing international tourism. On the lakefront and along the streets that go up to the state road, you can admire the sixteenth-seventeenth-century buildings. Walking through the ancient cobbled streets it is possible to discover the 12th century “Palazzo della Ragione”, the tower “Torre del Comune”, the 15th century “Casa dei Pironi”, the 16th century Sanctuary on the lake and the 18th century Collegiate Church of San Vittore. In the locality of Traffiume, you can be surprised by an unmissable natural spectacle: the “Orrido di Sant'Anna ''. The Orrido is a bubbling waterfall, carved into the rocks by the waters of the Cannobino stream; nearby there is a small church from 1665 dedicated to the Saint
• visit Piancavallo: this village is located at about 1250 meters above sea level, known today mainly for the presence of the Italian Auxological Institute. At one time you could also ski, but the lifts were abandoned around the mid-90s: Piancavallo still remains the starting point for numerous excursions, and the view of Lake Maggiore is wonderful from this natural balcony just 20 minutes from Verbania
• visit Stresa: Stresa overlooks Lake Maggiore near the Gulf where you can see the scenic Borromean Islands (Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori) located in a very suggestive position. This peculiarity, combined with the mildness of the climate and the scenic and architectural beauties, attracts thousands of tourists every year and makes the town one of the most popular Italian tourist destinations since the second half of the nineteenth century. Its lakefront is ideal for relaxing walks and for admiring historic houses and luxurious Art Nouveau hotels surrounded by greenery
• visit the Villa Pallavicino Park: the Villa Pallavicino Zoo Park has an area of about 20 hectares and is populated by over 40 species of animals including mammals and tropical birds: fallow deer, llamas, Tibetan goats, hares and macaques live in freedom in a area called Lombardina. The Antica Cascina hosts zebras, kangaroos and ferrets. Not far from the bar there is a pond with turtles and beavers. The park's centuries-old trees are famous (we remember the imposing Liriodendron, and the ancient Ginkgo biloba) and the botanical garden, visited every year by thousands of people

Tips about where to sleep in Oggebbio

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

Curiosities about Oggebbio

The mountain behind Oggebbio is preciously embellished by the many noble villas. According to tradition, Giuseppe Verdi found inspiration for the composition of Aida in one of these.

How to get to Oggebbio

It is possible to reach Oggebbio: from Milan / Malpensa Airport:

• by car: take the A26 motorway, direction Gravellona Toce. At the Stresa-Baveno exit, continue to Verbania-Intra and from here to Oggebbio
• by train: with the State Railways, Milan-Domodossola line, you arrive at Verbania station, connected by public urban service with Verbania-Intra. From here it is possible to reach Oggebbio with a bus service

Milan Malpensa airport is approximately 76 km away.