Grandate: Culture and Family Activities

Grandate offers a variety of options for a stay: a museum dedicated to the toy horse, sacred buildings with a long history and a family program at Chicco Village. If you’re looking for a hotel in Grandate, you can choose what to focus your visit on: the history of the churches, the unique museum or a scheduled activity for families. These places and activities bring different themes and schedules into your travel plans.

Church History and Art in Grandate

The Santuario Madonna del Noce is also known as the Santuario di Santa Maria Bambina and dates back to 1470. Its chapels contain preserved frescoes and stucco work, some of which date from the 17th century. The sanctuary therefore offers a focus on both the age of the building and specific surviving decorative details. For visitors interested in sacred art, this provides a concrete reason to spend time at the sanctuary.

Visits to the sanctuary are scheduled daily from 08:30 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00. Check whether these hours are still current before your visit. The Chiesa Parrocchiale San Bartolomeo Apostolo is open to visitors free of charge during church opening hours and services. Access is therefore limited to these times; take them into account when planning your day.

The history of the parish churches can also be placed in context using different dates. A former parish church in Grandate was dedicated to San Bartolomero and built in 1306 by the merchant brothers Cazanore from Blevio. The foundation stone of the new parish church, dedicated to San Bartolomeo, was blessed in May 1925. The new church was consecrated on September 3, 1927. These dates mark different stages in its construction and distinguish the earlier church from the later one.

A Museum with an Unusual Theme

The Museo del Cavallo Giocattolo is the world’s first and, to this day, only museum dedicated to the toy horse. Its clearly defined theme sets it apart from Grandate’s sacred sites: rather than architecture and church history, the focus here is on a toy. This means that culture in Grandate is not limited to a single theme. The museum appeals to travelers interested in the history and significance of an object, while the churches offer a different perspective through their architectural history and surviving works of art.

Railway History and the Parco Sorgenti del Torrente Lura Area

The route of the Grandate–Malnate railway line crosses the Parco Sorgenti del Torrente Lura area from east to west. The line opened on September 24, 1885, and connected the provinces of Como and Varese. These two details record different aspects: the opening and connection are part of transport history, while the route through the park describes the line’s geographical alignment.

Chicco Village: Opening Hours and Program

Chicco Village playground is open every day: Monday to Friday from 15:00 to 19:00, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 19:00. Opening hours may change, so check them before your visit. In addition to the playground, Chicco Village offers courses, events and family meetups, both on site and online. Dates may vary, so check the program in advance if you want to plan for a particular event.

This gives you different scheduling considerations when planning your trip: the sanctuary has morning and afternoon visiting hours, while Chicco Village’s hours vary by day of the week. The historic churches and museum, meanwhile, offer different cultural experiences. If you’re looking for a hotel in Grandate, it may be helpful to first decide which of these themes matter most to you and which opening hours or dates you’ll need to take into account.

Discover more destinations: Naggio, Como, Sormano, Germasino, Lanzo D’intelvi, Castelmarte, San Nazzaro Val Cavargna, Cantù.

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