Colmegna is a tiny village situated on the North Eastern shores of Lake Maggiore. It’s a place where you can enjoy some stunning lake views from its small lakeside beach. If we’re honest, there isn’t much to see and do in the village itself but it’s a truly charming base for any Lake Maggiore holiday, perfectly placed as it is for exploring the wider Lake Maggiore area.
What to see and do in Colmegna
The beach in Colmegna is definitely worth a visit if you’re visiting during the warmer months of the year. A mixture of grainy, coarse sand and pebbles, it allows holidaymakers and locals to access to the crystal clear lake waters which are beautiful to swim in.
Otherwise, as you wander around Colmegna, keep your eyes peeled for the war monument (Monumento ai Caduti di Colmegna). The larger stone rectangle that surrounds it is part of the original monument that was built in the 1920s to commemorate those that had fallen in WWI. Originally, this would have housed the bronze statue of a soldier. However, the statue itself was taken during the Second World War and re-cast to be used for war purposes. In the 1960s, the memorial was then re-built. A marble slab was added with the names of all those that had fallen during both WWI and WWII and an internal structure of overlapping red stone slabs was added inside the outer stone rectangle.
For some of the best views that can be enjoyed from the stretch of lakeside around Colmegna, head to the Santuario Madonna della Punta which sits in between Colmegna and the neighbouring village of Maccagno. The church dates back to the 16th century and, whilst the interior is arguably nothing spectacular, its elevated position on a rock overlooking the lake means it enjoys the most incredible views.
Otherwise, check out our Lake Maggiore travel guide. All 60 things to see and do in here can easily be done using Colmegna as a base. It’s also worth reading our guide to Luino and our guide to Maccagno since Colmegna is sandwiched between these two larger towns.
Where to stay in Colmegna
Villa Colmegna is the perfect Italian Lakes villa for a family or larger group. Comfortably sleeping up to 10 guests, it has lots in its favour – mature private gardens along with a private swimming pool as well as being within walking distance of the lakeside at Colmegna. Villa Colmegna is available to rent exclusively through Italian Lakes villa rental specialists, Bookings For You.
Also a short walk from the heart of Colmegna but suitable for smaller groups or couples, is La Toretta, a charming 1 bedroom Italian Lakes apartment sleeping up to 4. Bookings For You also offer two other similar sized apartments in the same building.
Or, if you prefer hotel accommodation, then we would recommend the Relais Villa Porta Hotel.
Where to eat in Colmegna
Colmegna can only boast a couple of eating establishments in the village itself but both come highly recommended. These include the excellent lakeside Tiffany restaurant at the luxury Relais Villa Porta Hotel as well as a more traditional pizzeria / trattoria called Miralago.
If you’d like a bit more diversity when it comes to restaurants, then the larger village of Maccagno is only 3 km north along the lake whilst Luino sits 4 km south of Colmegna. Luino is a much larger town with a wide range of shops and restaurants. Check out our guide to all our favourite Lake Maggiore restaurants.
How to get to Colmegna
By car: It is easy to reach Colmegna by car. Parking is limited in Colmegna itself though so, if staying in Colmegna, make sure you have parking provided with your accommodation.
By train: Colmegna has a train station located approximately 200 metres from the lakeside.
By plane: The nearest airport is Milan Malpensa which is just over an hours drive (60 km) from Colmegna. Alternatively, it is possible to fly into Milan Linate (115 km) or Milan Bergamo (130 km).
By boat: A network of boats regularly criss-crosses Lake Maggiore all day long. Whilst Colmegna does not have its own public boat stop under the Navigazione del Lago Maggiore, both the nearby towns of Maccagno and Luino have boat terminals allowing you to easily access all the other towns and villages around the lake.