Piemonte: Arona

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San Carlo/Carlo Borromeo welcomes you to the town of his birth – Arona. The Colosso di San Carlo (a huge bronze/copper statue) is testimony to the love and respect people had for him because of his heroism during the plague (1576) and his ascent to Archbishop of Milan (quite a prestigious post). You can climb up in to the statue and see Arona and the lake. A great view for sure! If you’re driving north toward Lago Maggiore, Arona is the first town at which you arrive. It’s a busy town with a train station and a port. Lago Maggiore is the largest lake in the district and extends to Switzerland. You really should take a boat ride or tour of this grand lake. Arona has La Rocca, a 13^th century castle (now in ruins – lovely ruins) with great views over the lake and mountains. The panorama is somewhat daunting as La Rocca sits at a sheer drop down to the lake….don’t go near the edge! The Chiesa dei Santi Martiri is a 10^th century church with a Baroque façade and Gothic interior. There are lovely stained glass windows and paintings inside. The Chiesa Collegiata Santa Maria (15^th century) is a Renaissance church with a polyptych by Gaudenzio Ferrari.