Lesa: Walking Routes and History on Lake Maggiore

Lesa connects Lake Maggiore with the green hills of the Vergante. Two main themes shape the town for trip planning: walking and hiking routes through woodland and hills, and historic buildings and collections. The routes range from an easy walk of around half an hour to trails with longer stated durations. By the lake, the lakeside promenade and the beach at Castellaccio add to the town’s character.

Between the Lake, the Vergante and Deciduous Woodland

Lesa’s deciduous forests consist mainly of chestnut woods, and an easy-to-follow network of trails runs through the area. Depending on the route, you will encounter different landscape features: dense chestnut groves, other deciduous forests, fields or stone walls. Some routes offer views of Lake Maggiore, while others look out towards Monte Rosa and the Alps. This lets you experience Lesa both as a lakeside destination and as a place of green rolling hills, with routes that vary in terrain and duration.

Walking and Hiking Routes by Duration and Landscape

The easy Varim Trail is a short option for a walk: it runs from Lesa to Belgirate, is 2.5 kilometres long and takes around 30 minutes. If you continue along the route, you can walk through fields and alongside stone walls to Villa Lesa. There is also a walking route from Via Gibertini towards Belgirate that follows part of the ancient Roman road.

The old municipal road from Lesa to Comnago is a wide mule track that climbs steadily through deciduous woodland. The Mascarana Trail runs from Lesa towards Comnago through dense chestnut woods and offers sweeping views of Lake Maggiore. The two routes therefore offer different experiences: a steady climb through deciduous woodland on one, and chestnut woods and lake views on the other.

For a longer outing, the hike through the Erno Valley from Villa Lesa to the Erno Waterfall takes two hours. The old road to Calogna is a forest trail from Lesa to Calogna that takes around one and a half hours. The Monte Croce–Motta Rossa circular route is also listed as taking around one and a half hours: it runs from Comnago to Motta Rossa and offers views of Monte Rosa and the Alps. The trail to M. Visconti is listed as a one-hour route at elevations of 206 to 430 metres.

The stated durations make it easy to compare a short walk with longer routes: alongside the Varim Trail at around 30 minutes, there are routes of one hour, around one and a half hours, and two hours. You can use the time you have available as a starting point for your choice. Trail conditions may change, so take this into account when planning your hike.

Townscape and History

The old village of Lesa lies along the lakeside promenade and features palaces, arcades and narrow streets. Its historic buildings add a range of periods and functions to the townscape. Castellaccio was built to monitor trade on Lake Maggiore; around the middle of the 14th century, it took on the role of a customs house.

The history of the Church of San Martino in Lesa dates back to the 12th century. The surviving wall remains of the old central nave illustrate its former structure and development. Above Solcio stands the Romanesque oratory dedicated to Saint Sebastian, which has preserved almost all of its original structure over the centuries. The Sala Manzoniana offers a different historical perspective, with books, documents and records from the period of the Italian Risorgimento.

Castellaccio highlights the former monitoring of trade and its customs function. San Martino and the oratory tell the story of church and architectural history, while the Sala Manzoniana preserves records from the period of the Risorgimento. These different themes can help you choose which historic sites to visit based on your interests.

Lakeside and Practical Planning

The beach at Castellaccio offers a lakeside spot for walking and relaxing. Swimming conditions are seasonal, so if swimming is important to your trip, check conditions before your visit. Lesa is also listed as a port of call on Lake Maggiore’s boat services. Boat services and stopping patterns are seasonal and may change with the timetable. Check the current timetable before planning a trip.

When planning, you can consider activities according to different factors: hiking routes vary in landscape and duration, while historic sites differ in their period and function. By the lake, there are also walks and opportunities to relax on the beach; boat services and swimming, on the other hand, are subject to seasonal conditions. This can help you weigh up the aspects of Lesa that matter most for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Marano Ticino, Veruno, Cavallirio, Vicolungo, Galliate, Mezzomerico, Pombia, Bogogno

For the regional travel overview: Novara.