Massino Visconti: History and Views from Monte San Salvatore
Accommodation in Massino Visconti
Massino Visconti on Monte San Salvatore
Massino Visconti lies on the southeastern slope of Monte San Salvatore and offers expansive views across the southern Lago Maggiore as far as Novara and Milan. The slopes of Monte San Salvatore offer walking paths through the greenery and panoramic views. Monte San Salvatore is a 794-metre-high elevation above Massino Visconti. The summit of Monte San Salvatore can be reached via approximately 4 kilometres of paved road.
Historic Town Centre and Sacred Buildings
Massino Visconti preserves much of its historic town centre, with remarkable medieval buildings. The narrow streets of Massino Visconti retain a rural character, evident in courtyards, portals, stone walls with old votive paintings, and numerous wayside shrines along paths and country lanes.
The Chiesa di San Michele stands in the centre of Massino Visconti and is known for its leaning bell tower. Only the Romanesque bell tower remains from the original Chiesa di San Michele. The Romanesque bell tower dates from between 1025 and 1050, has a square floor plan and six storeys. In the Chiesa di San Michele, the square apse, which forms the end of the church interior, contains a rich fresco cycle from the 15th century attributed to the workshop of Giovanni de Campo.
Castello Visconteo
The Castello Visconteo is an extensive complex with a massive tower dating from 1548 and 1555, later buildings, courtyards and gardens. The gardens of Castello Visconteo offer expansive views of the town or the lake.
Church Art on Monte San Salvatore
Around the year 1000, the religious members of the Abbey of Massino began building a church dedicated to the Redeemer on Monte San Salvatore. Three chapels arranged one above the other were added later, forming a distinctive complex of Alpine Romanesque art.
Memories of the Craft
The Monumento all'Ombrellaio stands in the square in front of the primary school in the centre of Massino Visconti. The sculptor Luigi Canuto created the Monumento all'Ombrellaio in 1972 to commemorate the numerous umbrella makers from Massino and the Vergante area. These umbrella makers practised their trade from the beginning of the 19th century until the beginning of the 20th century.
Festival, Event and Travel Information
The festival in honour of the Madonna della Cintura takes place every year on the third Sunday in August. The festival includes a traditional procession in which an old wooden statue is carried on the shoulders around the summit. One connection to Massino Visconti runs from Domodossola by train to Stresa, followed by the Stresa–Borgomanero bus. The bus stops in Massino Visconti.
In 2025, the 25th evening Giro dei cortili included a food event in the streets of the town of Massino Visconti with musical entertainment.
Other places: Pettenasco, Armeno, Orta San Giulio, Pella, Lesa, Miasino
To the main travel overview: Novara.
