EASTERN MAGGIORE LAKE: MOTORCYCLE TOUR ALONG THE EAST SHORE BETWEEN LOMBARDY AND PIEDMONT

Lake Maggiore is the second largest Italian lake, offers a multitude of things to see and is the perfect setting for a quiet motorcycle ride, with light and curvilinear passages, surrounded by lake views, islets in the distance and pre-alpine mountains. Contested between Piedmont, Switzerland and Lombardy, this two-wheeled itinerary of Lake Maggiore will linger on the eastern shore, almost always remaining in the Milanese region and stopping where it is needed. True motorcyclists are well aware that on this lake often you take a 360 degree tour (approximately 160-180 km), starting from the Lombardy side, passing through the Swiss border and returning to the Piedmont side. But this would not allow to fully enjoy the beauties of this lake: us instead we will mix the cruising speed with the quality of the trip, intertwining different posts for multiple motorcycle routes on Lake Maggiore.

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EASTERN MAGGIORE LAKE BY MOTORCYCLE: THE ROADSITALIA ROUTE

Our starting point will be Somma Lombardo, a small town in the province of Varese, easily reachable by the freeway. From here you can immediately descend towards the Lombard bank of the Ticino river and stop near the Panperduto Dam, a very important historical work built on a project by Eugenio Villoresi. Taking the SP27 instead, we descend towards Golasecca (returning to the side of the river), along a narrow paved road almost flush with the water and surrounded by greenery, to be traveled without haste.

Continuing, you reach Sesto Calende but before - about half way - you can see the Miorina Dam, another important hydraulic work in the vicinity. From Sesto Calende we go up on the city streets and begin to skirt the Lake Maggiore, where the panorama opens towards the Piedmontese coast and Arona, up to the Angera vault. Overlooking the shores of Lake Maggiore, the small Varese village offers unforgettable views and places of artistic and cultural interest, first of all the Rocca di Angera which dominates from an imposing height on a rocky spur.

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Mappa GPX - Clicca per scaricare

Back in the saddle and restarting the engines, we continue along the winding panoramic road, passing first Ranco, then Ispra and Arolo (along the SP69) and where we meet the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso in the municipality of Leggiuno. It is a monastery built overhanging the rocks, built between the 13th and 14th centuries and consisting of two churches dedicated to Santa Maria Nova and San Nicolao. The view overlooking the lake and the surrounding landscape is fully worth the stop. The last part of our motorcycle itinerary on the eastern shore of the Lake Maggiore, includes the arrival for a lunch break at the port of Laveno Mombello. Located along a large natural inlet, Laveno is a well-known Sunday "pit stop" for many passionate motorcyclists for having a quick lunch or a coffee. From here the road and the desire of where to continue is at your expense.

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An option could be to take the ferry to Intra, which will take you to the opposite shore in about 20 minutes, then following the Roadsitalia motorcycle itinerary of western Maggiore Lake in reverse. The second solution could instead be to continue the SP69 as far as Luino, to then go beyond Maccagno and arrive at the Swiss state border. The third solution- again from Luino - is to return towards Varese skirting the Campo dei Fiori Regional Natural Park and continue on the SS 394, following Besozzo and then Monate, where you can "circumnavigate" the lake of the same name which offers very interesting views (perhaps also useful as a last stop before returning home).

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USEFUL ADVICE ON THE ROUTE OF MAGGIORE LAKE

This motorcycle itinerary of eastern Lake Maggiore is undemanding, very pleasant and made up of several stops. The duration can vary from mid-morning to all day, obviously depends on the number of stops and the time you have available. The road can be traveled all year round, perhaps choosing the central hours in winter: in the warm seasons and autumn, on the other hand, the colors of nature will make up 50% of the pleasure of your journey. And you? Have you ever traveled the eastern part of Maggiore Lake by motorbike? Let us know in the comments below.