Brovello-Carpugnino: Trails, Churches and Lake Views
Accommodation in Brovello-Carpugnino
Forest Trails and Alpine Pastures
From the last houses in the upper part of Brovello, a trail leads through chestnut and beech forests to the alpine pastures of Brovello. Numerous trails connect the alpine pastures with one another and with the surrounding villages; they can be used for hiking and cycling at any time of year. The shady forest trails of Carpugnino are suitable for walks.
Lake Views and Golf
From the summit of Motta Rossa, also known as Monte Ber, there is a view of Lake Maggiore. From Stropino, paths lead to a lakeside area in about 30 minutes on foot, with views of Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands along the way. From Stropino’s main square, you can reach the Golf Des Iles Borromées golf course on foot or by mountain bike and continue up to the summit of Motta Rossa. Golf Des Iles Borromées is open year-round. From Golf Des Iles Borromées, there are views of the mountains of Simplon and Val Grande, and, in clear weather, of the Milan skyline as well as the four pre-Alpine lakes of Lake Maggiore, Lake Varese, Lake Monate and Lake Comabbio.
Churches and Local History
The churchyard of the Chiesa Romanica di San Donato is surrounded by chapels belonging to a Stations of the Cross dating from 1780; Perraccino from Novara decorated them with frescoes in 1792, and the frescoes were restored in 2000. The first section of itinerary IV09 passes through the centre of Brovello, crosses a characteristic stone bridge and reaches the Romanesque church of San Pietro. On Scarlasc Hill are the archaeological remains of the Castellaccio, including a boundary fortification wall with an entrance threshold and the foundations of other buildings.
In the old centre of Graglia stands the Chiesa dei SS. Antonio e Giuseppe. This church was built after Comnago, Nocco and Brovello gradually separated from the mother church of SS. Pietro e Paolo. The annual feast of Sant'Antonio Abate takes place on 17 January; after the liturgy, offerings are auctioned. The church of SS. Pietro e Paolo in Graglia Piana is set in an area with chestnut and beech forests. A forest trail from the centre of Graglia passes the church of SS. Pietro e Paolo and continues towards Nocco. Along the forest trail from Graglia, there are impressive views of Vergante and Lake Maggiore.
Stropino and Traditional Crafts
The historic centre of Stropino features winding lanes with houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, entrances and arcaded porticoes, older houses with medieval features, votive chapels and frescoes depicting sacred subjects. Carpugnino is also known for the “Lusciat”, who worked as travelling umbrella makers. Along the Grisana stream, which separated the territories of Carpugnino and Graglia, there were several mills where rye, millet and maize were ground into flour. In the Sacche area, one of these mills was converted in 1829 into a workshop with a hammer mill for working iron. The so-called “Ponte romano” on the road to Brovello was once a compulsory crossing for the transport of goods and the movement of people.
Getting There via Carpugnino
The A26 motorway has an exit at Carpugnino, providing access to the main destinations of Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta and Lake Mergozzo, as well as to the villages and mountains of Ossola.
Further destinations: Belgirate, Macugnaga, Aurano, Beé, Cursolo-Orasso, Arizzano, Miazzina, Formazza
For the higher-level travel overview: Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.
