Santa Caterina del Sasso
The hermitage on the rock
On the eastern shore of the lake, at Leggiuno, there's a hermitage that looks impossible: Santa Caterina del Sasso, clinging to a wall of rock right above the water. Legend has it that a merchant, Alberto Besozzi, founded it after surviving a storm on the lake.
Inside, chapels and frescoes from different centuries look out over Maggiore. You reach it on foot from above, down a long stairway, or by a lift carved into the rock — and some arrive from the water, by ferry.
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It's a half-day that's worth the trip, especially with the morning light on the lake.
The right move: walk down the stairway, enjoying the view, and take the lift back up. Your legs will thank you for the climb you skipped.
— Lorena Erbetta
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