The best MTB trails around Arona

For lovers of walking, historical monument, on the route

Lake view from the train station

This pier is very cleverly designed.

Ferry office, Art Nouveau

The Church of the Purification of the Virgin Mary is the parish church of Massino Visconti in the Province and Diocese of Novara. It is part of the Vergante pastoral unit. The first mention of a Catholic church in Massino dates back to 887. The new church was built in the second half of the 16th century with three naves and was given the title of parish church during the same period, after the Church of San Michele was severely damaged by a landslide. In the first half of the 19th century, the old Romanesque bell tower was demolished and replaced with a new tower. The church's striking, west-facing façade consists of three volumes interrupted by pilasters: the main body, characterized by the main portal, is preceded by a small portico opening into a serliana in the center, while the two side wings have secondary entrances. Attached to the parish church is the stone bell tower with a square floor plan. Its cell has a single-lancet window on each side, protected by a balustrade, and is crowned by a pyramidal spire resting on a drum with an octagonal base. The interior of the building is divided into three naves, overlooking which the side chapels face. Pillars and columns support round arches, above which runs the molded and projecting entablature, upon which the vaults rest. At the end of the hall is the presbytery, raised a few steps, bordered by balustrades and housing the main altar. Several valuable works have been preserved here, including the 16th-century frescoes depicting Saint Mary of the Assumption and the Coronation of Mary, as well as the paintings on the vaults depicting the Doctors of the Church and the symbols of the Evangelists. it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiesa_della_Purificazione_di_Maria_Vergine_(Massino_Visconti)

Beyond the church, which may or may not be of interest, from here there is one of the most beautiful views of the lake.

In Arona, the birthplace of San Carlo Borromeo, stands the imposing statue dedicated to the saint, built after his canonization to celebrate the greatness of the Milanese archbishop. For almost two centuries, this statue held the record for being the tallest in the world. The city preserves many places linked to the life of Borromeo: the Rocca, his birthplace, today transformed into an enchanting panoramic park with the remains of the ancient fortress; the collegiate church of Santa Maria Nascente, where he was baptized; and the church of the Santi Martiri, where he celebrated his last mass before returning to Milan, where he died in 1584.

The Church of San Donato is a true jewel of the sacred architecture characteristic of Vergante. The original place of worship, developed on a single nave plan, was built in the 11th century, but the oldest evidence of its existence dates back to 1169. During the fourteenth century the church was partially rebuilt in Romanesque-Gothic style and enlarged. In 1780 a large churchyard was built in front of the main façade, surrounded by fourteen chapels of the Via Crucis. In the nineteenth century the ancient medieval bell tower adjacent to the building was struck by lightning, which caused it to collapse; in its place, a new stone bell tower was erected. In 1902 the church was declared a national monument, confirming its importance as a very valuable example of the sacred architecture of the entire Vergante area.