Val Veddasca, itineraries and stories to rediscover an enchanting territory: a summer of events from 9 July to 22 September

New appointments await tourists and residents of Val Veddasca during the summer of 2022, as part of the project “The Sacred Valley”, made by Pro Loco Maccagno with Community Foundation of Varese as major supporter and with the patronage of Municipality of Maccagno with Pino and Veddasca.

From 9 July to 18 September 2022 a series of itineraries will take place to discover the wonders and secrets of this extraordinary territory enclosed between the shores of Lake Maggiore, with the aim of boosting soft mobility and slow tourism, which will have as the final destination is the Contest photo exhibition “The spirituality of Val Veddasca”on 22 October al Meeting point by Maccagno.

Paths between nature, architecture, sacred and profane art, lives of saints and theatrical representations that will tell stories and legends: an unmissable opportunity to visit little-known villages, savoring their spirit and beauty from a historical and naturalistic point of view, thanks to expert guides who will accompany visitors on each of the scheduled itineraries.

The program in detail:

Saturday 9 July 2022, at 5 pm, Federico Crimi – profound connoisseur of these territories and art historian – will be the guide of a very pleasant walk “In the maple wood. The Via Crucis and the Church of Penedegra in Graglio “a journey through the sacredness of these places.

The small hamlet of Graglio boasts three churches, which amaze for their decorative richness and size. One of these, immersed in the woods, is the church of San Giuseppe, better known as the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Penedegra, which houses two splendid frescoes: the one on the main altar is the work of Antonio Ciseri; Antonio da Tradate, on the other hand, is the author of the “Madonna del latte”.

Saturday 16 July, at 5 pmMaurizio Miozzi, also a renowned local historian and author of numerous volumes on Val Veddasca and Val Dumentina, will propose the sacred itinerary: “The way of the people. From the chapel on the top to the church of San Bernardino in Musignano ”.

The Oratory has essential lines but retains a valuable bell tower and a wall clock. Unfortunately, in 2002 the precious altarpiece depicting the Saint prostrate before the Virgin of the Angels, of whom he was devoted, was stolen. Thanks to a copy made by two artists from Maccagno, Mario and Marco Catenazzi, the work can still be admired today inside the church.

From the sacred to nature: the “Sacred Valley” suggests the first naturalistic itinerary, which will have two exceptional companions: Paolo Fumagalli, environmental and hiking guide, and Sonia Gallazzi, naturopath.

Throughout the whole day of Sunday 31 July, from 10 to 17, you will walk through the enchanted woods around the Montagnola pond, passing between the villages of Campagnano and Musignano: “The spirituality of the forest between birch and chestnut trees”It is a ring of 7.5 kilometers and 500 meters in altitude which, however, does not provide for difficulties (level E, hiking, medium easy); a very pleasant path along which you can discover the herbal and phytotherapeutic properties of these plants.

Tuesday 16 August, in conjunction with the traditional Feast of San Rocco, in Campagnano, there will be a themed theatrical performance, dedicated to the figure of the Saint: “San Rocco and the bonfires. Quarantine stories “a co-production of the Pro Loco Maccagno and Teatro in Drao: the church of San Rocco tells stories that come down to us from the past, with a very current look on the theme of how man has faced pandemics.

Saturday 20 August, at 5 pm, Roberto Baggio – expert gnomonist – will tell an extraordinary story: “Heaven on earth. The sundial of San Martino a Campagnano “.

On the side of the church of San Martino, in Campagnano, there is the largest solar quadrant in Europe – 36 square meters of painted surface – dating back to 1783, probably the work of the Jesuit Francesco Luini.

Saturday 27 August, at 5 pm, a double trip: the professor of art history Elisabetta Cornolò will talk about de “The lawn of Ada Negri. From the Church of Bruganten (Veddo) to the shrine of San Giovanni Battista in Piantonazzo “; a theatrical performance dedicated to Ada Negri (1870-1945) will follow: “Calm, silence, purity, simplicity, light!”, produced by Pro Loco Maccagno in collaboration with APS Gattabuia.

The great poet often stayed in the surroundings of Veddo, defining “such beautiful and serene places” those that surrounded her house in Caviggia. Among her favorite walks, the one in Bruganten, where the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Neve is located; right here, she found inspiration for some of her most famous lyrics.

Saturday 10 September, at 5 pmanother sacred path (by Elisabetta Cornolò and Federico Crimi), during which the guides will illustrate: “The memory of the snow. The church of S. Maria in Forcora ”.

Also a small treasure enclosed in the Val Veddasca, the Church of the Madonna della Neve rises at 1179 meters above sea level.

Originally a small open chapel, where functions were sometimes officiated, it was enlarged and completed between 1845 and 1967.

It was the parish priest of Graglio at the time, Giovanni Contini, who on 6 June 1791 asked the Curia of Milan for that oratory that was located on the Forcora pasture, in order to offer a place of worship to breeders during the summer season, when they brought to pasture their flocks.

Sunday 18 September, from 10 to 17, Paolo Fumagalli and Sonia Gallazzi will again be the guides of another beautiful itinerary through “Paths and legends of light “. S.tories of Lake Delio and Monte Borgna, a circuit of 7 kilometers – for a total of 400 meters in altitude – in a route of medium-easy difficulty.

The charm of the beech forest, with a view from the summit of Monte Borgna and its mountain moor (broom and moorland) and that small mirror of water so suggestive, steeped in legends and dreamlike visions – Delio, in its double meaning of proper name and metonymy to indicate the Sun – will be the background of the theatrical performance: “Legends of Lake Delio”.

During these journeys to discover places little known to most people, visitors will be able to take the opportunity to immortalize, according to the sensitivity of each one, the spirituality in the Veddasca Valley, the theme of the photographic contest that began on April 2 this year and that, precisely to allow them to take themed shots, it was decided to extend the itineraries until the end. The photos sent to Pro Loco Maccagno will be exhibited in an exhibition at Meeting point in via Valsecchi 21 in Maccagno with Pino and Veddasca, which will be inaugurated on Saturday 22 October at 5 pm.

It is no coincidence that this location was chosen, which represents an ideal arrival point for the Giona river and, by bringing the essence of Val Veddasca into the lake, it represents its beginning and end.

More details on the development of each itinerary and practical information will be communicated close to each event and published on social networks (FB, Instagram) and on the Pro Loco di Maccagno website (www.prolocomaccagno.it).

To participate in the events it is recommended to book a [email protected]or via Whatsapp at 351 506 1272.

After booking, you will receive updates directly to your address.