Holiday apartment in Mercallo: Discover lakes, nature and history
Accommodation in Mercallo
Holiday apartment in Mercallo: Lakes, history and nature
Mercallo brings together activities, landscape and culture through specific themes: the “Bike Tour intorno ai Laghi di Comabbio e Varese,” the Palude Mercallo, churches, the Vecchia Fornace Colombo and the Giobia tradition each offer a different focus. When choosing a holiday apartment in Mercallo, this range provides clear guidance between cycling, nature observation, sacred architecture and local tradition.
File:Mercallo Affresco votivo Beata Vergine di Caravaggio.jpg
Photo: Francoerbi via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Chiesa di San Giovanni Evangelista and Vecchia Fornace Colombo
The Chiesa di San Giovanni Evangelista preserves the main altar from the older church. The work, created in the 18th century, consists of carved, painted and gilded wood and includes polychrome scagliola. The last reconstruction took place towards the end of the 19th century; the church was extended and reoriented at that time. Interior details and architectural development come together here in one church building: the 18th-century main altar and the later extension with its new orientation mark two different periods.
At the Vecchia Fornace Colombo, the original tall terracotta chimney is the focal point. The Fornace was founded at the beginning of the 20th century. This adds another specific historical detail to the sacred architecture, revealing a different side of Mercallo.
Chiesa dell’Addolorata and the Giobia tradition
The Chiesa dell’Addolorata is also known as Madonna dei Sette Dolori. Its single-nave layout, rectangular presbytery and flat, circular dome define its architectural form. The Giobia tradition in Mercallo has a different local connection: it involves lighting a bonfire in Piazza Balconi. Sacred architecture and the Giobia tradition thus stand side by side.
Palude Mercallo and the bike tour around two lakes
The Palude Mercallo combines a natural history and archaeological dimension. The only pile-dwelling settlements in the entire lake were found there; they date back to the Bronze Age. At the same time, the Palude serves as a resting area for migratory birds. This means that nature observation and historical interests come together as two different focal points in the same area.
For days spent cycling, the “Bike Tour intorno ai Laghi di Comabbio e Varese” is a clear point of reference: it starts in Mercallo and follows cycle paths and footpaths along the two lakes. The route connects the two lakes through a combination of cycle paths and footpaths.
Destinations around Mercallo
There are several different destinations in the area around Mercallo. Villa Bellini and Villa Baumann are palaces in the surrounding area. The Museo Archeologico and the Chiostro di Voltorre, both museums, are also located there. Destinations in the surrounding area also include the beaches Spiaggia del Sasso Cavallazzo and Spiaggia dei Caravalle, as well as Parco Luigi Zanzi. In the wider region around Mercallo lies the summit of Monte Mazzarone. The selection therefore ranges from buildings and museums to beaches, a park and a summit, appealing to a variety of interests.
More places for your regional selection
In addition to Mercallo, you can also visit Tradate, Taino, Varese, Marnate, Cassano Magnago, Case Nuove, Casorate Sempione and Malgesso.
To the higher-level travel overview: Varese.
