Mercato di Luino

Lake Maggiore

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The otherwise sleepy town of Luino becomes a consumer madhouse on market day. This is no ordinary local flea market but rather an enormous bazaar that was first held in 1535 and today sees some 370 stands filling the old town centre. You'll find everything from local cheese to vintage threads, and bargain-hunters come from as far away as the Netherlands.

Unless you arrive very early, don't try driving. Extra ferry services from the other side of the lake run on market day; or catch a bus or train.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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    Castelgrande

    19.11 MILES

    Rising dramatically above the Old Town, this medieval stronghold is Bellinzona’s most visible icon. Head up Salita San Michele from Piazza Collegiata, or…

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    Castello di Montebello

    19.16 MILES

    On cloudless days, you can see Lake Maggiore from this 13th-century hilltop fortification. The fortress is one of Bellinzona’s most impressive with its…

  • Villa Balbianello

    Villa Balbianello

    22.47 MILES

    A 1km walk along the (partially wooded) lake shore from Lenno's main square, Villa Balbianello has cinematic pedigree: this was where scenes from Star…

  • Villa Carlotta

    Villa Carlotta

    23.82 MILES

    The star of the show on a lake shore not bereft of elegant touches, the Villa Carlotta is a fabulous fusion of neoclassical architecture and harmonious…

  • Santuario della Madonna del Sasso

    Santuario della Madonna del Sasso

    12.43 MILES

    Overlooking the town, this sanctuary was built after the Virgin Mary supposedly appeared in a vision to a monk, Bartolomeo d’Ivrea, in 1480. There’s a…

  • Castello di Sasso Corbaro

    Castello di Sasso Corbaro

    19.14 MILES

    From central Bellinzona, it’s a 3.5km hike south to the Castello di Sasso Corbaro. Perched high on a wooded hillside, the castle has an austere beauty…

  • Duomo

    Duomo

    21.07 MILES

    Como’s awesome marble-clad cathedral is one of the most important buildings on the lake, incorporating a variety of styles – Romanesque, Renaissance and…

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    Passalacqua

    19.85 MILES

    This elegant 18th-century villa on the banks of Lake Como was once home to composer Vincenzo Bellini is now an award-winning luxury hotel.

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Nearby Lake Maggiore attractions

1. Orrido di Sant'Anna

5.45 MILES

A narrow steep-sided gorge located 3km from Cannobio. You can drive here, though the best way to come is by taking an easy, partially wooded walking path…

2. Sacro Monte della Santissima Trinità

6.42 MILES

The main (some would say, only) reason for stopping in Ghiffa, a blip of a village 4km northeast of Verbania, is to make a pilgrimage 3km inland and…

3. Villa della Porta Bozzolo

6.52 MILES

In the unassuming town of Casalzuigno, about 9km east of Laveno, generations of nobles have swanned about the magnificent gardens of Villa della Porta…

4. Schokoland

6.7 MILES

Chomp into some cocoa culture at the Alprose chocolate museum, Schokoland – a sure-fire hit with kids. Whiz through chocolate history, watch the sugary…

5. Laveno Funivia

8.27 MILES

A highlight of Laveno is the Funivia, which whisks passengers up to a panoramic spot 949m above sea level, in the shadow of the Sasso del Ferro peak …

6. Museo Hermann Hesse

8.76 MILES

This museum showcases German-born Swiss poet, novelist and painter Herman Hesse's personal objects, including some of the thousands of watercolours he…

7. Isole di Brissago

9.16 MILES

Marooned in the glimmering waters of Lake Maggiore, this tiny pair of islands is famous for its botanic gardens designed in the 19th century. Magnolias,…

8. Villa Taranto

9.77 MILES

At Villa Taranto it's all about the gardens (the house itself is not open to the public). The grounds of this late-19th-century villa are one of Lake…