Discover Mercallo: Cycling Tour and Cultural Heritage

Mercallo is the starting point for a cycling tour, and the municipality also offers several themes related to its architectural and local history. These include the churches of San Giovanni Evangelista and dell’Addolorata, the Vecchia Fornace Colombo and the Palude Mercallo. When planning your trip, you can weigh up different interests: a tour along two lakes, architectural features, industrial heritage or the history of pile-dwelling settlements.

Cycling Tour by the Lakes

The “Bike Tour intorno ai Laghi di Comabbio e Varese” starts in Mercallo and follows cycle and footpaths along Lago di Comabbio and Lago di Varese. The starting point, types of paths and route give you a concrete basis for planning if you want cycling to be a defining part of your trip. Check the latest information about the route and conditions before setting out, as details of the offer may change.

Churches and Architectural History

The Chiesa di San Giovanni Evangelista preserves the main altar from the older church. The altar was created in the 18th century and is made of carved, painted and gilded wood with polychrome scagliola. This brings different periods together in one building: the furnishings belong to the older church, while its last reconstruction took place towards the end of the 19th century. During this renovation, the church was enlarged and reoriented. If you are interested in architecture, you can therefore take a closer look at both a piece of church furnishing and a change in the building’s history.

The Chiesa dell’Addolorata is also known as Madonna dei Sette Dolori. Its single-nave layout, rectangular presbytery and flat, circular dome represent a different aspect of church architecture from the preserved altar and renovation history of San Giovanni Evangelista. “Nave” refers to the central space of a church; the presbytery is the area around the altar. This description therefore draws attention to the floor plan and spatial form rather than to a single piece of furnishing. The two churches offer different points of reference for considering architectural form and history.

Industrial Heritage and Earlier History

The Vecchia Fornace Colombo was founded at the beginning of the 20th century. It retains its original tall terracotta chimney. Its founding date and chimney complement each other: the former places the Fornace in time, while the latter is a specific surviving architectural feature. Compared with the older church furnishings and the reconstruction of San Giovanni Evangelista, these buildings show how Mercallo’s history spans different periods.

The Palude Mercallo also offers a glimpse into another period. The wetland is suitable as a resting area for migratory birds. It is also where the only pile-dwelling settlements in the entire lake were found; they are dated to the Bronze Age. These two aspects raise different questions: the resting area serves migratory birds, while the pile-dwelling settlements point to prehistoric human habitation. Thus, the Palude brings together a natural feature and an archaeological connection.

Giobia in Mercallo

In January 2026, the Giobia tradition in Mercallo included lighting a bonfire in Piazza Balconi. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the dates again for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations: Viggiù, Cantello, Porto Ceresio, Rasa Di Varese, Fagnano Olona, Brezzo Di Bedero, Lonate Pozzolo, Besnate

Return to the main travel overview: Varese.