If Italy is the land of saints, poets, and sailors, this village on the border with Switzerland has an even more original range of “professions”. It is located in the center of the so-called ‘valley of the gods’ painters†– or Val Vigezzo. It’s where the creatives are perfumers they created the most famous essence in the world – cologne. In addition, every year it hosts a big, decidedly quirky, and much-loved event: the International Meeting chimney sweeps. We are located at Santa Maria Maggiore, in the north of Piedmont, not far from the beautiful Lake Maggiore. This place with very special specialties is sure to be welcoming to us motorcyclists too!
Motorcycle itinerary in Val Vigezzo and Santa Maria Maggiore
Map
Achieve Gravellon Toca (highway A26) and exit towards Verbania and Lake Maggiore. State road SS34 takes you along the lake (which you keep to the right). Continue until Cannobio. Turn left onto the SS631 state road which, between climbs, bends, and hairpin bends, will take you to Val Vigezzo, near Santa Maria Maggiore. It’s time to get off the saddle and visit the town, and after spending the night in the capital of the “valley of painters” set off again the next day. You can then take a sightseeing tour by continuing on the state road SS337 until Domodossola and then return directly to the starting point – Gravellona Toca.
All attractions not to be missed in Santa Maria Maggiore
View of the beautiful tourist resort of Santa Maria Maggiore, the main center of the Vigezzo valley
Santa Maria Maggiore is an established tourist village that has received the Orange Flag of the Italian Tourist Club. It is located at an altitude of 816 meters and its territory borders Switzerland (Canton Ticino). It is the most important and largest city in Val Vigezzo and part of the village is part of the Val Grande National Park.
Museum of chimney sweeps
It is located in the Villa Antonia Park, in the historic center of Santa Maria Maggiore Museum of chimney sweeps, a place where documents, testimonies, and memories of this ancient profession are exhibited: many chimney sweeps trained in the Vigezzo Valley. It’s a small museum, but it welcomes 10,000 visitors every year. The ticket costs €2. In addition, the International Meeting of Chimney Sweeps is the most anticipated event in the city and usually takes place on the first weekend of September.
The house of perfumes and the true history of Cologne
You might think that the most famous perfume in the world – cologne – was born in Germany, specifically in Cologne. Instead, it comes precisely from Santa Maria Maggiore, thanks to Giovanni Paolo Feminis (who lived in Val Vigezzo and then emigrated to Cologne), who created the formula at the end of the seventeenth century Mirabilis recognized for its therapeutic properties. An essential contribution was the support of his friend Giovanni Mario Farina, a businessman also from San Marino, who took care of the marketing. PUSH Feminis-Farina perfume house (Piazza Risorgimento 5, entrance €3) offers a journey composed of scents and stimuli that lead to the discovery of the true history of Eau de Cologne.
Santa Maria Maggiore, the center of the Valley of the Painters
PUSH “Rossetti Valentini” School of Fine Arts., at Via Rossetti Valentini 1 in the historic center, exhibits the works of Vigezzi painters from the eighteenth to the twentieth century: an exceptional artistic treasure signed by a large number of artists born in this valley, which explains why the area was called “the valley of the painters”. Finally, during the year-end holidays, this city has another attraction that it is known for: the Christmas markets, less of an artistic event than the exhibitions that take place throughout the year, but still a delight for the eyes and the heart!
On the roofs of Santa Maria Maggiore stand figures celebrating the profession of a chimney sweep
