Every self-respecting community has traditions which it has nurtured through the years and which are still jealously maintained. The Lake Maggiore area is no exception, offering a wealth of local festivals celebrating a miracle, the cherry, grape or mushroom harvest, or just the glory of nature.

The Ossola valleys are a crossroads of people and cultures, and this is reflected in the many local festivals and customs held here every year to preserve the memory of a community, and keep alive the values handed down for centuries. Some of the liveliest are St Bernard’s Fair in Macugnaga, the International Meeting of Walser Peoples in Formazza, and the International Gathering of Chimney Sweeps in Santa Maria Maggiore.

The lake shores are no less rich in festivals. Cannobio celebrates the Miracle of the Holy Rib in the highly atmospheric festival of the Lumineri, held on the 7 January each year; nearby Cannero has its Citrus Fruit Festival in March, and every August the exciting Palio Remiero (Rowing Race) takes place in Pallanza.

These are only a few of the myriad of festivals held throughout the Lake Maggiore area. Plan your holiday to take in as many as you can!