Cannobio

Cannobio is the last town on the shore of Lake Maggiore before the Swiss border. Today it is one of the prime tourist resorts in the VCO province.

The original centre of the town, known as the “Borgo”, begins from the ancient Via al Castello and takes the visitor into a timeless world of old houses, flights of steps and lanes leading down towards the lake front. These narrow streets, shut in by high buildings, were designed to protect the inhabitants from hostile incursions from the lake.

Cannobio’s lakefront is one of the finest promenades on Lake Maggiore. Starting from the southern end (called “Amore”), the first thing to notice is the marble sculpture of a lion, made by Giulio Branca in memory of the successful defence of the burgh against attack by the Austrians in 1859. Farther on you can explore the area of the old fisher houses before ending up in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele III, the square that is the main meeting place in the town. The other colourful buildings adorning the lakefront, with their picturesque porticoes, boutiques and bars, date from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Cannobio is also well-known for its Lido, a broad, well-appointed beach which is a magnet for bathers and sunbathers, as well as water sports enthusiasts.

Behind the town a road leads into the mountains of the Cannobina Valley, a paradise for hikers and lovers of unspoiled nature; the valley is part of the Val Grande National Park. Don’t miss the natural spectacle of the Sant’Anna Gorge, cut deeply into the rock by the rushing Cannobino river.

More on: www.illagomaggiore.it