What to see and what to do in Porto Valtravaglia

Porto Valtravaglia is a resort town on the Lombard shore of Lake Maggiore between Laveno and Luino. The village has the charm of the past, incredible landscapes and little streets to explore.

After the old factories have been shut down, Porto still has a well-preserved historic center. Don't miss a nice walk by the lake, along the beautiful pebble beaches or visit several typical mountain villages such as Muceno, Domo, Musadino, Ligurno, all with beautiful Romanesque churches.

Places to see and to visit in Porto Valtravaglia

Church of San Michele al Monte

The Millenary Church of San Michele al Monte rises in the territory of the current municipality of Porto Valtravaglia, approx. 820 meters above sea level, not far from a small alpine nucleus of very ancient origins. The location and the view on Lake Maggiore are magnificent and suggestive.

In this Romanesque church, frescoes from the 1000s have been found with a “Byzantine” and archaic flavor, one of which depicts a curious beardless S. Ambrogio.

Domo Valtravaglia and Church of Santa Maria Assunta

Arriving in the main square of Domo gives the perception of being in a singular place, as you find yourself surrounded by buildings of an unusual solemnity in a country village.

The main church, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, has a beautiful Romanesque steeple, very high bays and a significant façade. Across the street, separated from the road, is the baptistery dedicated to San Giovanni Battista with its central octagonal plan with Latin inscriptions.

Ethnographic Museum "Catanai e Barlafus"

The "Catanai e Barlafus" Ethnographic Museum, inaugurated on May 17, 2009 and housed in the Civic Library in Via Roma, collects a whole series of commonly used equipment. The tools, which represent "a piece of daily life", were patiently collected, kept and cataloged by Mr. Adriano Tognoli (Monday 9-12, Tuesday & Thursday 14-17, Wednesday & Saturday 16-18).

The “washhouses” of Porto Valtravaglia

It is very curious to admire in Porto Valtravaglia and its hamlets the old washhouses that preserve their original features intact.

“Lungolago” and beaches of Porto Valtravaglia

The entire lakeside of Porto is a jewel with beautiful buildings from the seventeenth century. At the entrance to the town (coming from Castelveccana) there is the beach of Punta Molino with a nearby kiosk for drinks and sandwiches, also excellent as an aperitif. There are several sheltered spaces near the old glassworks and on the border with the Caldè ovens.

From the other side there is the beach of Montesole, with a large parking lot and a restaurant bar. Along the lake you can also find the beach of the “Golfo degli Aranci” and in front of the lakeside gardens the beach called “del Corti”, with a sandy beach. However, the areas where you can sunbathe and bathe in the lake are also different in the surrounding area.

Alpe San Michele - Belvedere

Alpe di San Michele, straddling the Valcuvia and Val Travaglia, not only offers an incomparable view of Lake Maggiore, but is also the starting point for beautiful walks in the surrounding woods around Monte Colonna.

The paths that wind from San Michele are different, some are part of the 3V path, others are more recent but just as interesting. One of these is the trekking of the insubrians, adequately marked, which leads to the Masso delle Croci or Altare degli Avi, an erratic boulder all covered with engravings of probable Celtic origin.

The ghost village...

Continuing along the path, you arrive in Brissago Valtravaglia, not without first passing through the abandoned village of Cavojasca, also a source of popular legends where the boundary between reality and myth remains thin. It also appears to have very ancient Celtic origins. In the 16th century, it appears that it was inhabited by a dangerous robber, a certain Francesco da Cavojasca. It was populated until 1943, when, at the time of the armistice, Paola Cerini was wildly murdered.

Things to do in Porto Valtravaglia

• visit the Borromeo Islands: a boat trip is definitely the best way to turn your trip on Lake Maggiore into a unique and unforgettable experience. However the main attraction of the Gulf is the famous Borromeo Islands: Isola Bella, with the noble Palazzo Borromeo and the Italian-style gardens, created by the exuberant Baroque imagination; Isola Madre, beloved for its lush greenery, rare plants, exotic flowers, peacocks, and parrots in nature; Isola dei Pescatori, where you will find a picturesque village; finally the islet of San Giovanni, the only one not open to visitors. At the end of June, during a weekend, the traditional Bleak Festival is held, on the occasion of which a rich food stand with music and dance is set up on the Lido sand
• visit Caldè: among the nearby villages overlooking the lake, Caldè is certainly the most famous, often called "La Portofino del Lago Maggiore". It is known for a picturesque harbor, a large sandy beach, numerous coves, transparent and swimming water and for the ancient kilns, abandoned in the mid-twentieth century and now covered with graffiti
• visit Laveno-Mombello which is one of the most suggestive centers in the province of Varese. It appears to stand between the blue of Lake Maggiore and the green of the mountains behind it. Important is the Monte Sasso del Ferro that can be reached through a cable car and that represents one of the most popular views of Lake Maggiore. It is famous for its tourist port that puts it in contact with the Piedmont coast. In the center of the city you can see the parish church of S. Stefano, the 18th century Villa De Angeli Frua that is today the seat of the Municipal Administration and the Municipal Library. Laveno Mombello is famous for its suggestive underwater nativity scene that can be admired from the first days of December until the end of the Christmas holidays and which is positioned on the lake in the area in front of the full center of Laveno.
• visit the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso: it is a Monastery clinging to the rocks overlooking the lake, one of the most fascinating historical places of Lake Maggiore. This authentic balcony overlooking the Gulf of the Borromean Islands can be reached from the lake, by climbing a staircase of 80 steps or from the square above, by descending a panoramic staircase of 240 steps, or simply by taking advantage of the comfortable and modern lift. This leads to the Hermitage and first meets the Southern Convent, then the Conventino. Then you can admire the portico with four round arches overhanging the lake. From here you enter the church, which connects the three chapels, originally distinct and belonging to different periods, including the chapel of Santa Caterina
• visit Luino which is situated on the great plain at the mouth of the Valtravaglia, about 4 km from the Swiss border. Luino is the most important city on the Lombard coast of Lake Maggiore. You will find yourself in a typical and elegant lakeside town, with the narrow lanes of ancient colorful houses overlooking the lake and the noble villas of the past. Among the secular palaces, there is also the Palazzo Verbania, which houses a well-stocked local library and the Civic Archeological Museum Paleontology, which houses relics of great value. Close to the Museo Civico Archeologico Paleontologico is also the Verbano Railway Museum, a real must for those who love trains and objects related to this fascinating world
• visit Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca: known mostly for its beaches, Maccagno is one of the cities closest to the Swiss border on the Lombard coast of Maggiore. On the coast you will meet the small port and the church of the Madonnina, before a succession of beaches which you can also cross. Among the most striking areas is that of the Giona Park, from which the Castello di Cannero are clearly visible. In the historic center, the Imperial Tower and the Sanctuary of the Madonnina della Punta, that majestically overlooks the lake, are well worth a visit
• visit Germignaga and its churches: Germignaga has much to offer visitors both in terms of scenery, nature and culture. The former parish church of San Giovanni from 1100, and the church of San Rocco, in the baroque style, are definitely to be seen. The heart of the city is very picturesque

Tips about where to sleep in Porto Valtravaglia

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

Curiosities about Porto Valtravaglia

Porto Valtravaglia, among the locals is known as the town of "mezaràt", a dialect word to indicate "half mouse", which is bats. According to the nobel prize Dario Fo, this “is a term that refers to the people of Porto Valtravaglia who worked mainly at night” because they were glass blowers, fishermen and smugglers.

In summary, Porto Valtravaglia is a town where bars and taverns never closed, they had no doors, they had no main entrance. I grew up there, in a country where there were people who came from all over Europe, from France, Germany, Spain, even from the East, each with a different glass blowing technique ".

How to get to Porto Valtravaglia

It is possible to reach Porto Valtravaglia:

• From Milan / Malpensa Airport:
  • By car: take the A8 Milano- A26 Genova Gravellona motorway. Take the Sesto Calende-Vergiate exit and continue towards Laveno Mombello. Then follow the indications to reach Porto Valtravaglia
• From Lugano:
  • By car: proceed towards Lavena Ponte Tresa; after the customs, go towards Luino. Once in the municipality of Luino proceed towards Porto Valtravaglia