Ameno between lakes, trails and culture

Ameno lies in the hilly landscape between Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore. The medieval Via Francigena also passes through Ameno; it connected Gozzano with Orta San Giulio. Trails, scenery and historic buildings offer different ways to experience a trip to Ameno. If you are looking for a hotel in Ameno, you can decide whether to plan your stay around hiking trails, nature or cultural sites.

Hiking trails, nature and Monte Mesma

In the hills of the hamlets beyond the Agogna, marked trails lead through natural areas. Observant hikers may encounter fallow deer, roe deer, wild boar, squirrels, foxes and birds of prey. The high hills of the Vergante near Ameno are characterized by chestnut, beech, pine and birch trees. From Monte Mesma, you can see Lake Orta, with its centrally located island, and the Monte Rosa massif in the background.

The Anello Celeste circular trail is 7.3 kilometres long. It starts in Ameno, passes through Vacciago and Lortallo, continues to the monastery on Monte Mesma, and returns to Ameno. The route also leads to the Monte Mesma Nature Reserve. The monastic complex there includes two Baroque cloisters and a church dedicated to Saint Francis. The Piedmont Region established the nature reserve to protect the religious complex and its vegetation.

The Anello Indaco is about 11 kilometres long and is of particular interest to nature enthusiasts because of its flora and fauna. Along the route, more than 15 information panels use images and thematic topics to explain the environment and the area. Comparing the published distances, the Anello Indaco is longer than the Anello Celeste; the routes also differ in their stated focus: the Celeste highlights the route through several places and the monastery, while the Indaco focuses on nature topics along the way.

The Sentiero Alimurgico also combines nature with in-depth information. It starts in the unpaved car park opposite Ristorante Monte Oro in Ameno. QR codes provide information about habitats and botanical features, as well as the culinary uses of the plants and possible identification errors.

Palaces, parks and religious buildings

The Museo Tornielli is located in the Palazzo Tornielli of the same name in Ameno. It hosts temporary exhibitions, concerts, theatre events, cultural gatherings and conferences. The Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista houses paintings by Giovanni Antonio De Groot, Giuseppe Zanatta and Tarquinio Grassi. The Baroque church was built at the end of the 17th century and served as the private oratory of Palazzo Tornielli.

The Parco Neogotico combines a range of design features, including centuries-old trees, flower beds planted with native species, a well-preserved old icehouse and a tower. It also features backdrops entirely painted with frescoes to imitate Gothic architecture. The park opened to the public in 1920 and underwent extensive restoration from 2007 to 2011. Visitors can therefore see both garden features and painted architectural motifs in one place.

Another date in the town’s history is marked by the bell tower of the Chiesa Parrocchiale Santa Maria Assunta, which was built in 1505. In Vacciago, Casa Calderara is an example of civil Renaissance architecture from the late 16th century. A triple loggia with granite columns defines the building. It served Calderara as a home and studio; a collection of sculptures and paintings from the 1950s and 1960s was established there.

The Santuario della Madonna della Bocciola stands in a scenic location on the road between Vacciago and Ameno. The neoclassical building has a quatrefoil-shaped interior and a monumental main altar made of white marble. Its features also include 19th-century frescoes by Agostino Comerio. Along with the oratory and the monastery on Monte Mesma, the sanctuary illustrates the variety of religious architecture in the places described.

Discover more destinations

Marano Ticino, Ghemme, Cameri, Fontaneto D'agogna, Agrate Conturbia, Vacciago, Borgolavezzaro, Massino Visconti

For the main travel overview: Novara.