Discover Agrano: Churches and History

If you’re looking for a hotel in Agrano, the town’s religious history and cycling connections can help you get your bearings. San Maiolo, La Morta di Agrano and the tradition surrounding Leandro offer different cultural points of interest; the AGRANO–MOTTARONE area is part of Omegna’s cycling area. When choosing a hotel, these themes can help you decide what you’d like to focus on during your stay.

San Maiolo on the outskirts of Agrano

The parish church of San Maiolo lies on the outskirts of the hamlet of Agrano, on the slopes of Mottarone. Its basilica-style floor plan comprises three naves, a large apse and a choir. These features give the church a clearly defined architectural profile: the three-nave layout divides the space, while the apse and choir are further central elements of the church’s design. For visitors interested in culture, its appeal lies both in the building itself and in its location within Agrano. Its position on the outskirts of the hamlet, on the slopes of Mottarone, helps you place the church geographically and decide what to focus on during your stay.

La Morta di Agrano: discovery and veneration

Another story associated with Agrano is that of La Morta di Agrano. She was found mummified in 1792 in the ossuary of the local cemetery and subsequently became an object of veneration among the surrounding community. Thus, a precisely dated discovery is connected to a later local religious tradition. The mummy is currently displayed in a glass case in a chapel built outside the parish church of Agrano. If you would like to see the display case, check access arrangements for the chapel before your visit.

Leandro: relics and painting

Agrano’s church also offers a tangible point of historical interest: the relics of Leandro are kept there, having arrived in Agrano from Rome in 1663. Leandro’s remains are held in the original reliquary, made in 1668. A painting of the purported martyr San Leandro can also be seen on the church’s rear wall. The Agrano community commissioned it in 1707 from an unknown painter. The three dates mark different stages: the arrival of the relics, the making of the reliquary and the commission for the painting. The reliquary and the painting represent different forms of religious remembrance.

AGRANO–MOTTARONE as a cycling sub-area

The AGRANO–MOTTARONE area is one of three sub-areas in Omegna’s cycling area. If you’re looking for a cycling connection during your trip, you can use this classification to help choose your destination.

Footpath to the waterfall viewpoint

An unpaved footpath about one kilometre long leads to the waterfall viewpoint, following a stream to a footbridge; from there, the waterfalls are best viewed. The distance is approximate. Trail conditions may vary after rain, so it’s a good idea to check them before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Verbania, Omegna, Fondotoce, Pontegrande, Casale Corte Cerro, Trontano, Premia, Artò

Return to the regional travel overview: Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.