Maccagno: Village, Culture and Lakeside

Maccagno on Lake Maggiore is divided by the Giona River into Maccagno Superiore and Maccagno Inferiore. The river and lake shape not only how the town is laid out, but also the features that set it apart: a museum above the water, a historic village, lakeside areas and water sports events.

Culture on the Giona River

The Museo Civico Parisi Valle spans the Giona and was designed by architect Maurizio Sacripanti. The museum thus connects Maccagno’s division by the river with a specific cultural theme. Its collection of contemporary paintings and sculptures originated with a donation from Giuseppe Vittorio Parisi to the Municipality of Maccagno. The museum also houses a permanent archaeological exhibition.

The information point for Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca is also located in the Museo Civico Parisi Valle, Viale Leopoldo Giampaolo 1, 21061 Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca (VA). The museum and visitor information are therefore located at the same address.

Historic traces in Borgo Inferiore

Contrada Maggiore in Borgo Inferiore is characterised by closely spaced houses along narrow lanes. The Torre Imperiale, a striking structure, also stands in the lower village. Together, the district and the tower provide two distinct points of reference for Maccagno’s historic architecture.

Maccagno Inferiore’s historic privileges included its elevation to an imperial fief, a privileged fief with a special relationship to the emperor. It also had the right to mint coins in its own mint. The former mint building stood right by the lake, at what is now Piazza Roma. At Porto della Gabella, boats travelling on Lake Maggiore once had to stop to pay customs duty on their goods.

The Santuario della Madonna della Punta is located in Borgo Inferiore and faces directly towards the lake. It has been documented in records since the 16th century and acquired its present form towards the end of the 18th century. These two dates give the building its own historical perspective, while its location also marks its connection to the lake.

Lakeside, beaches and views

In the centre of Maccagno, Parco Giona has a beach of pebbles and grass, with a view of the Castelli di Cannero. From Borgo Superiore, the panoramic view stretches across the lake to the golfo Borromeo. These are two different lake views: one from the beach in the centre, the other from the upper village.

Ronco delle Monache beach lies beyond the tunnels on the road to the Swiss border. Its location is described in relation to the road and tunnels, while the beach at Parco Giona is noted for its mix of pebbles and grass and its view of the Castelli di Cannero.

Water events and routes

On Sunday, 3 August 2025, the ninth Traversata dei Castelli took place, starting at Lido di Maccagno. The open-water swimming routes went from the Lido around the Castelli di Cannero. On 15 August 2025, Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca hosted the historic international Regata del Canalone, which reached its 60th edition. Participants included world champions and America’s Cup sailors. The regatta consisted of a single race along the stretch of lake it is named after and was open to dinghies, catamarans, keelboats and yachts.

The traditional Festa della Gabella also brings good food and musical entertainment to Lungolago Girardi. The “Salto dell’acqua” route offers a different perspective on the municipality: it begins in Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca on Lake Maggiore, passes Lago Delio and continues to Passo della Forcora at an altitude of 1,179 metres.

Choose the right focus for your hotel search

If you’re looking for a hotel in Maccagno, a specific travel interest can help you narrow down your options: would you like to focus on the historic townscape, the museum collections or the lakeside and landscape? When considering a specific offer, check the address if a particular location is important for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Tradate, Brissago-Valtravaglia, Lonate Pozzolo, Monteggia, Tronzano Lago Maggiore, Cadegliano-Viconago, Orino, Arsago Seprio

For the wider travel overview: Varese.