Belgirate: Culture, Trails and Water Sports

Belgirate lies at the end of the Motta Rossa promontory, whose eastern slope separates the lower basin of Lake Maggiore from the Golfo Borromeo. Local history and architecture sit alongside walking trails and waterside activities—three starting points for planning your trip.

Cultural history in the museum and churches

The small Museo della Baita della Libertà ethnographic museum in Belgirate brings together everyday objects, agricultural tools, antique furniture and other artefacts relating to local history. Its collection brings the town’s history to life through objects from everyday and agricultural life. The museum is also connected with an episode of the partisan war involving a Georgian resistance figure, after whom the street below it is named.

Another cultural and historical landmark is the parish church of Santa Maria della Purificazione e San Carlo, a Neoclassical church. Inside the Oratorio di San Paolo are frescoes depicting Christ in a mandorla, the Apostles and the cycle of the months. A boulder near the oratory bears carved cup marks. From the SP 125, the oratory can be reached via a footpath marked with a white signpost.

Villa Conelli: design and grounds

Villa Conelli was built in the second half of the 19th century by the architect Eugenio Linati as a U-shaped urban palace. The term “urban palace” describes the building type, while the U-shape describes its floor plan. The villa’s grounds include an Italian garden, a small wood, a landing stage for boats and a former stable complex.

Circular walks and views at Chiesa Vecchia

Two circular routes can be compared by their different features: the “Historic center and lakeside ring” is an easy walk for all fitness and experience levels, with easy-to-walk paths. The “Anello Belgirate – Lesa” is an easy, flat route connecting Belgirate and Lesa.

The Sentiero dei Castagni leads to Chiesa Vecchia di Santa Maria; from its terrace, you can look out over the town’s rooftops. The church is just over a ten-minute walk from the town centre, beyond the railway on the hill near the cemetery.

Beach and water activities

Belgirate has a public beach. Sailboats and motorboats are also available for hire there. Windsurfing is offered by Associazione Windsurf Belgirate, and diving activities by Club Sub Il Sciatt.

At Polaris Yacht in Marina di Belgirate, canoes can be rented for one or two hours; check availability before your trip. Polaris Yacht also offers three-hour sailing trips with a skipper to explore particularly scenic parts of Lake Maggiore and its islands. Check the trip schedules before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Mergozzo, Craveggia, Varzo, Premia, Premosello-Chiovenda, Masera, Cavaglio-Spoccia, Druogno.

For the full travel overview: Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.