Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
coed 13th- and 14th-century chapels. A few ferries from Stresa dock here between March
and October (return €6.80). Otherwise, by car or bus it's 5.6km south of Laveno (watch
for the signs for Leggiuno and then a sign for the convent, 1km in off the main road).
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
LUINO
The otherwise sleepy town of Luino hosts Lago Maggiore's biggest
market
(Market;
8.30am-4.30pm Wed) on Wednesdays. This is no ordinary local flea market but rather an enormous
bazaar that snakes off into the surrounding streets wth all manner of trash and treasure, not to mention
some good street food. The records show that an important weekly market was first held here in 1535.
Today more than 350 stands are set up in the old town centre, with everything from local cheese to
second-hand fashion on sale. Bargain-hunters come from as far away as the Netherlands.
Arona
POP 14,600
It was in Arona that the son of the Count of Arona and Margherita de' Medici, who would
go on to be canonised San Carlo Borromeo (1538-84), was born. His birthplace, the
Rocca Borromea castle, was destroyed in 1801 on Napoleon's orders, its stone used to
pave the Via del Sempione. In 1610 San Carlo was declared a saint and his cousin, Fede-
rico, ordered the creation of a
sacro monte
(sacred mountain), with 15 chapels lining a
path uphill to a church dedicated to the saint. The church and three of the chapels were
built, along with a special extra atop the
Sacro Monte di San Carlo
( 0322 24 96 69; Piazza
San Carlo, Arona; admission €4; 9am-12.30pm & 2.30-6pm Mar-Oct, to 4.30pm Sat & Sun Nov-Feb;
Arona)
: a hollow 35m bronze-and-copper statue of the saint, commonly known as the
Sancarlone (Big St Charles). It can be climbed, affording a spectacular view from the top
(children under six years old are not permitted).
To reach the hill, walk or drive 2km west from Piazza del Popolo, Arona's most charm-
ing piazza.
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