Discover Marzio: Trails, Views and History

Marzio combines wooded trails, expansive views and vibrant local traditions. The area's highlights range from easy walks and historical traces to panoramic routes and local festivals.

Trails and Routes from Marzio

Several easy trails for trekking and walks through the wooded surroundings, with viewpoints along the way, start from Marzio. There are also cycling routes surrounded by nature in Marzio. The Monte Piambello viewpoint loop leads over Monte Derta and returns to Marzio south of Marzio. North of Marzio, you can walk the Belvederi di Monte Marzio loop.

Marzio is home to some trails of Parco Cinque Vette, which extends for 14 kilometres between Monte Piambello, Monte Poncione, Val de’ Corni, Marzio and Monte Derta. On the Bocchetta Marzio-Stivioni route, the gravel road to Piambello leads to Bocchetta dei Frati; the route then descends towards Marzio and reaches a fork leading to Bocchetta Stivioni. Itinerario 4 leads from Marzio via Forcorella, Monte Piambello and Bocchetta dei Frati back to Marzio. The various route options give you an indication of whether you would prefer to plan shorter walks or a more extensive tour.

Viewpoints between Lake Lugano and the Ticino Mountains

The viewpoints on Monte Marzio offer views over part of Lake Lugano and the Ticino Mountains, from Monte Lema via the Denti della Vecchia to San Salvatore. From Monte Derta, the view extends across Lake Lugano from Morcote via Brusimpiano to the Gulf of Agno.

History along the trails and in the town centre

The historic Sentieri della Pace – Frontiera Nord trail, Route 4, runs between Marzio and Cuasso al Monte and leads to trenches, communication trenches, machine-gun emplacements, and stone and concrete barracks. The fortifications of the Linea Cadorna in Marzio were reinforced from 1911 under the direction of the Milan military engineering corps and expanded until 1916. In the historic centre stands the Chiesa di San Sebastiano Martire, built around 1740 on the site of an existing 16th-century chapel.

Traditions: Canto del Maggio and San Sebastiano

In Marzio, Canto del Maggio takes place on 1 May to celebrate the arrival of the beautiful season. The day before, a flowering branch of the wild cherry tree is collected and decorated with ribbons and bows. On 1 May, the young people carry the flowering branch from house to house and sing Canto del Maggio.

The San Sebastiano festival includes a traditional auction of donations from local residents in aid of the church of Marzio. The festival takes place on the Sunday closest to the feast day and includes a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Marzio in the afternoon.

Getting to Marzio

From Varese, Marzio can be reached via the SS 233 Varesina through Valganna and then along the Ghirla-Brusimpiano provincial road; alternatively, the route from Ganna to Marzio leads via Boarezzo. A public bus service connects Marzio with Varese and offers several daily services in both directions.

Further Destinations

For further travel planning, you can also discover Crugnola, Varese, Barasso, Castelveccana, Case Nuove, Sesto Calende, Venegono Superiore and Brebbia.

Back to the overarching travel overview: Varese.