Nature and Faith: from Lake Maggiore to Lake Orta

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During your holiday by the Lake Maggiore you can go for long walks along the numerous paths studded with devotional chapels, sanctuaries and Sacro Monte churches: an itinerary from Lake Maggiore to Lake Orta between Nature and Faith.

PATH 1 – from Baveno to Gignese
Leaving from Baveno, where you can marvel at the Romanesque Church of Ss. Gervasio and Protasio, and continuing along the path that leads to Someraro, you will find some popular local houses made of stones. Heading towards Stresa, you will reach the small village of Binda, from where you can enjoy a full view of the Borromean Gulf. From Stresa walk towards Carpugnino where you can visit the Church of San Donato and the numerous devotional chapels situated along the road towards Gignese.

PATH 2 – from Gignese to Omegna
From Gignese, where you can visit the Museum of Umbrellas, proceed towards Armeno and the small burgh of Carcegna, which is renowned for its Parish Church of St. Peter. Once you have left Armeno, you get to Orta San Giulio: here you can visit the Sacro Monte of Orta, a UNESCO World Heritage site and reach by boat the San Giulio Island. Just like Orta San Giulio, Omegna is situated by Lake Orta: worth a visit is the Romanesque Church of San Gaudenzio.

PATH 3 – from Omegna to Quarna Sopra
Omegna is a major centre for kitchenware industry and a renowned touristic centre: the Omegna Forum, a multicultural centre which displays a permanent collection of the cult kitchenware articles produced locally and the Church of St. Ambrogio dated back to Xth century are well-worth a visit. Further north you come to the Monte Zuoli firts, a rocky hillside with a number of prehistoric engravings and then to the village of Quarna Sotto, which is famous for its long-established tradition of making wind instruments and its Museum of Local Culture and Musical Instruments and the Baitine Mill.

PATH 4 – from Quarna Sotto to San Maurizio d’Opaglio
Once you have left Quarna Sotto, you get to Quarna Sopra and then to Nonio, where you can visit the Parish Church of St. Biagio. From Nonio proceed towards Cesara and then along the old path that leads to Arola: here the houses are all decorated with numerous frescoes, such as the Dormitio Virginis fresco. The path leads then to Centonara and Boleto where you can visit the Museo dello Scalpellino, dedicated to the craft of stonemasonry and the splendid Sanctuary della Madonna del Sasso. Finally, proceed towards San Maurizio d’Opaglio walking through the small village of Briallo, whic is renowned for its local tap industry.