• Art & Culture
    • Villages

Arcumeggia

The town of painted houses

Where
Via Sant'Antonio, 21030 Casalzuigno VA
Contacts
+39 342 380 5472
Official site

Arcumeggia (hamlet of the municipiality of Casalzuigno, about 560 meters above sea level and three kilometers from the town centre) represents a unique reality: from the 1950's onwards, an innovative experience was launched in the town, with the aim of combating the abandonment of mountain territories that the country was experiencing. During the Middle Ages, as well as the 16th and 17th centuries, "Arx Media", old name of Arcumeggia, suffered the same fate as many territories in the Varese area, changing its administration numerous times. In 1786 it was annexed to the province of Varese, in 1809 to Vergobbio and in 1812 to Cuvio. The municipiality of Arcumeggia was later restored with the return of the Austrians. In 1927, during the fascist era, it was united with Casalzuigno.

In 1956 the Provincial Tourist Board decided to turn it into a painted town: dozens of famous painters came to the village (see the website of the local Pro Loco - www.arcumeggia.it), whose frescoes can be admired on the exterior walls of the houses and along the Via Crucis. The 'Casa del Pittore' is also worth a visit.

Arcumeggia is the bithplace of the sculptor Giuseppe Vittorio Cerini, whose works are conserved in a small glipsoteca in his house and in the local cemetery.  The "Sangalleria" in Via Malcotti is also a well-known exhibition venue. Nationally and internationally renowned artists were called to create frescoes on  the facedes of the rural houses and an "open-air art gallery" was born:  Monachesi, Sassu, Usellini, Brindisi, Migneco, Carpi, De Amicis, just to name a few, created the paintings that we can still admire.

However, Arcumeggia is not only this: its history, traditions and natural environment make it an enchanting and very particular place, in which it is possible to rediscover ancient flavours and testimonies of rural life, cultural proposals and entertainment, a small but active community that manages to combine the preservation of ancient values ​​with the pleasure of sharing and welcoming. 

 


Other links

Percorso di visita del borgo
Take me here: Arcumeggia

Places

Villa della Porta Bozzolo

Villa Bozzolo, with its Rococo trompe-l’oeil and walls and Baroque decor, is one of Lombardy’s best-known “pleasure villas”.
  • Art & Culture
Villa Della Porta Bozzolo, Monumenti Varese
1.27 km

Casalzuigno

Between history and art: from Valcuvia man to erratic boulders
  • Art & Culture
Casalzuigno
1.39 km

The Lime Tree of Orino

  • Art & Culture
The Lime Tree of Orino
3.72 km

Cassano Valcuvia

An area immersed in nature and history
  • Active & Green
Cassano Valcuvia
4.34 km

Salvini museum

Innocenzo Salvini art gallery in Cocquio Trevisago
  • Art & Culture
Salvini museum
5.5 km

Necropoli di Caravate

Complesso di quattordici sepolture a inumazione fra l’VIII e il IX secolo
  • Art & Culture
Necropoli di Caravate
6.48 km

From Varese to Campo dei Fiori

Segregated bike lanes, fishing villages and historic parks. On the roads of a memorable edition of the Road World Cycling Championships
  • Cycle Tourism
The Basilica of San Vittore in Varese
7.04 km

Swimmable Beaches on Lake Maggiore

  • Lakes
Grassy lakeside with lake and mountains and people walking and engaging in activities at sunset.
7.34 km

Church of the invention of santo stefano

  • Religious Tourism
Church of the Invention of Santo Stefano
7.59 km

Laveno Mombello

  • Lakes
Laveno Mombello
7.93 km

Laveno Mombello | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau

  • Lakes
Laveno Mombello | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau
7.93 km

Lake Maggiore villages

La sponda lombarda del lago: relax e borghi
  • Lakes
Lake Maggiore villages
7.93 km

Laveno

  • Lakes
Lago Maggiore-Laveno-panoramica da San Clemente
7.93 km

Ghirla Hammer

  • Art & Culture
Ghirla Hammer
8.14 km

Badia di Ganna

  • Religious Tourism
Badia di Ganna
8.67 km

Museo Baroffio e del Santuario del Sacro Monte sopra Varese | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau

  • Art & Culture
Museo Baroffio e del Santuario del Sacro Monte sopra Varese | Varese Convention & Visitors Bureau
8.75 km

Leggiuno

  • Villages
Leggiuno
8.76 km

Sacro Monte Varese

  • Religious Tourism
@inlombardia - sacro monte varese
8.79 km

Sacri Monti in Piedmont and Lombardy

  • Unesco Sites
Sacri Monti in Piedmont and Lombardy
8.82 km

Lodovico Pogliaghi House Museum

Visit the Pogliaghi House Museum at Sacro Monte di Varese: discover art and history in one of the most fascinating museums in Varese.
  • Art & Culture
Hedges of the garden and entrance gate of the Lodovico Pogliaghi House Museum at Sacro Monte di Varese on a sunny day.
8.9 km

Where to sleep

DOMUS ARCUMEGGIA

Casalzuigno
DOMUS ARCUMEGGIA
44 mt

LA CASA DI RENZO E ANNA

Casalzuigno
LA CASA DI RENZO E ANNA
102 mt

CASA DELL'ACERO ROSSO

Casalzuigno
CASA DELL'ACERO ROSSO
409 mt

Cascina Lavanda

CASALZUIGNO
Cascina Lavanda
1.04 km

Via della Libertà loc. tur.

CASALZUIGNO
Via della Libertà loc. tur.
1.29 km

ANTICO BORGO SANDA

Casalzuigno
ANTICO BORGO SANDA
1.37 km

LOCANDA DEL PITTORE

CASALZUIGNO
LOCANDA DEL PITTORE
1.39 km

Agriturismo Rosalber vendita di prodotti

CASTELLO CABIAGLIO
Agriturismo Rosalber vendita di prodotti
1.61 km

VIA MONTE NUDO

Casalzuigno
VIA MONTE NUDO
1.67 km

B&B IL CORTILE

Casalzuigno
B&B IL CORTILE
1.85 km

B&B DEL CAMPO NOVELLO

Duno
B&B DEL CAMPO NOVELLO
2.13 km

NOEL

Cuvio
NOEL
2.37 km

HOTEL RISTORANTE CORONA

Cuvio
HOTEL RISTORANTE CORONA
2.64 km

MULINO DEI LAGHI MANSARDA

CUVIO
MULINO DEI LAGHI MANSARDA
2.7 km

LA CASA DEI NONNI

Casalzuigno
LA CASA DEI NONNI
2.74 km

MULINO DEI LAGHI

Cuvio
MULINO DEI LAGHI
2.74 km

Locaz. Tur. Casa nel bosco

PORTO VALTRAVAGLIA
Locaz. Tur. Casa nel bosco
2.83 km

CVA500

Porto Valtravaglia
CVA500
2.83 km

AL CIOS

Azzio
AL CIOS
2.97 km

HOME SHARING FALCETTI

Cuvio
HOME SHARING FALCETTI
3.01 km