What to see and what to do in Lesa

Lesa is a town of just over 2000 inhabitants overlooking the Piedmontese shore of Lake Maggiore in the province of Novara. Together with Belgirate and Meina, it is part of the Union of Municipalities of the Vergante.

Thanks to its position, Lesa has been a strategic outpost on the lake over the centuries. From 1240 under the name of Lexia it was a curia with its own castrum, of which today the remains remain in Castellaccio.

It has been dominated by Milan's archbishops. Then the village became a customs outpost and hub for trade via the lake: for this reason it first passed into the hands of the Visconti and then the Borromeo. With the decentralization of trade, it lost its strategic role. Later it was involved in a rapid process of urbanization with the construction of luxury villas and residences in suggestive locations on Lake Maggiore.

Alessandro Manzoni also enjoyed spending time at Lesa. He usually stayed in the villa owned by his second wife Teresa Borri, evidently located on the seafront. Today Lesa is one of the most popular tourist destinations.

What should be seen and visited in Lesa

Manzonian Museum

This is not a real museum but a place that tells the story of Alessandro Manzoni de Lesa's visit. Among the many luxurious buildings of which Lesa is rich, there remains the Palazzo Stampa, a neoclassical villa that now houses the seat of the Banca Popolare di Novara.

In this villa, Alessandro Manzoni enjoyed staying with his wife Teresa Borri, widowed Stampa. The Sala Manzoniana still remains in the building and houses a collection of drawings, manuscripts and objects that were owned by the writer.

Castellaccio

After being an important outpost for the control of the lake, Lesa also had her castrum in antiquity. The Castellaccio is the only one left today. It stood right on the lake shore and gives its name to the beach that lies in front of it. What remains to be seen today are the ruins of a square structure with the thin remains of a tower.

Church of the Madonna in Campagna

This is a small sanctuary with a square base close to the shores of Lake Maggiore. Outside it is all coated in white while inside it conserves baroque paintings dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Legend has it that the church was built by a resident of Belgirate after escaping a violent storm over the lake.

Most impressive and majestic are the parish churches of San Giorgio and San Giovanni Battista and San Martino, patron saint of Lesa. It is situated on the lakefront with the three naves and the Romanesque steeple.

What to do in and around Lesa

• beaches in Lesa: the best known beach in Lesa is that of Erno, a vast beach with sand and gravel located at the mouth of the Erno river which flows into Lake Maggiore right here. The river is often simply a trickle: this is why tourists love to take up positions both on the river and on the shores of the lake. Access to dogs is also allowed near the river Erno; moving towards the lake, the beach is partly free and partly equipped with umbrellas and deck chairs and embellished with palm trees and oleanders
• not just Erno Beach! Besides the beach of Erno, further north is the beach of Castellaccio, quite small, with a grassy background, with a cemented part with steps. The beach is free as well as the neighboring beach of Madonna di Campagna. It is made up of small pebbles and gravel, it is bordered by the wall of a private pier on one side and sheltered behind by several trees always belonging to a private garden. This is reached by a concrete staircase from the church of the Madonna di Campagna
• shopping in Lesa: in the municipality of Lesa you can find the Herno Outlet. It is a large clothing store where you can buy quality clothing from major brands, sports or elegant clothing at affordable and discounted prices

Tips about where to sleep in Lesa

These are just some of the accommodation facilities in Lesa. You can find all the hotels, B & Bs and campsites where you can spend a stay or a holiday in Lesa on Lake Maggiore here.

How to get to Lesa

• by car: from Milan just take the A26 dei Trafori and exit at Arona or better still at Meina. Via the SS33 del Sempione in 5 minutes you can reach Lesa. Instead, arriving via the A8 Milano-Laghi motorway, it is necessary to exit at Castelletto Ticino and always continue on the SS33 del Sempione, going north up Lake Maggiore on the coastal road of the Piedmontese shore: in 25 minutes you can reach Lesa passing first through Dormelletto and Arona
• by train: it is also possible to reach Lesa by train through the Milan-Domodossola railway line. The train station is right in the center

Lesa is approximately 70 km from Novara, 60 km from Varèse and 40 km from Milan-Malpensa Airport. It is about 82 km from Milan, but with the motorway network in about 1h30 minutes you can easily reach this picturesque seaside town overlooking Lake Maggiore.

Lesa also has a port for the docking of the Navigazione Laghi boats, so you can reach the main tourist attractions of Lake Maggiore such as the Borromean Islands, the Rocca di Angera or the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso. Arona is located at a distance of 8 km to the south along the SS33 of Sempione, while the beautiful Stresa is 9 km to the north on the same road. Not bad!

From Lesa you can easily reach Mount Mottarone in 24 km and the picturesque town of Orta San Giulio, overlooking Lake Orta, in 23 km.