The lake of Mergozzo was once upon a time a gulf of Lake Maggiore, but because of the drifts of the Fiume Toce is since 1800 a little separate lake, just a few kilometres from Lake Maggiore and lake Orta and direct on the Sempione national road.
This little charming lake is one of the cleanest Italian lakes, a true paradise for couples in search of a romantic and peaceful nest where starting a new life together, the perfect destination for exclusive weddings.
Lake Mergozzo is also recommended for young sportive couples as here it’s possible to practice water sports in safety as the lake is forbidden to engine boats.
The lake, dominated by the Mount Montorfano and surrounded by ancient woods, is a fantastic starting point for many lovely walks from which the visitor can enjoy a fantastic view on to the lake Maggiore, the Pianura Padana and the Alps chain. Beside its amazing location, Lake Mergozzo hasn’t been invaded by mass tourism yet.
The romantic village of Mergozzo, that takes its name from the lake, is a knotty system of narrow picturesque alleys, arches and flowering balconies. The beautiful waterfront is featured by the bright colours of the houses that overlook the main square. Taking a stroll in the quiet corners of the old town, the visitor can admire ancient wrought-iron doors and lots of building made of the local stone and beole and, of course, the fading affreschi (frescoes) of the saints at protections of the houses and their inhabitants.
Along the lake promenade, a row of linden trees runs by the shore and a pluri-secular olmo (elm) towers over a few meters from the lake. At the shadow of this elm, in the 17th century, the town magistrates used to sit and discuss about public administration, justice and capital executions. This monumental tree has been listed in the plants heritage of Piedmont.
The natural charm of the landscape, together with the traces of centuries of histories, make certainly Mergozzo worth of a visit and why not…an unusual and challenging new wedding destination!
Human traces in Mergozzo date back 5000 years, but it’s only during the Impero Romano (Roman Empire) that this little town becomes an important centre of commercial interchanges. Mergozzo,or Meregocium as it was called in ancient times, however, accommodated more ancient settlements and now we can see evidence of them in the Antiquarium, a museum hosted in the Preacher’s House (Casa del Predicatore). In these rooms there are items dating back to pre-history, the Bronze Age and Roman Age; many of then were found in local necropolises.
The Romanic church of Santa Marta (16th century) is a little architectonical gem. The parish Church dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption (17th c.) is well-known for its 18th c. poarch called “le Cappelle” (the Chapels) and the stations of the Via Crucis. It’s mainly in this church, in the very heart of the town, that all the weddingsWeddings-Private-Estates take place.
After about a one hour walk along a medieval mule-track, the most adventurous couples can reach the small village of Montorfano, laying amidst chestnut woods and proudly featuring the most interesting and best preserved Romanesque church in this area (11th-12th centuries dedicated to St. John the Baptist. This charming sacred jewel is particularly appreciated by the newly-weds. This church was made using the marble coming from the nearby mount Montorfano. This name, sounding like ‘orphan mount’ in Italian, was given to the mount for its standing alone close to the Lake Mergozzo.
A last curiosity: at 7km from Mergozzo there’s the little hamlet of Candoglia. The marble used to build the Cathedral (Duomo) of Milan were taken from the famous quarries of Candoglia, still operative today.
Although Mergozzo can appear as a tiny little village it offers very high quality choices for exclusive weddings.