Ghiffa

Ghiffa is a small municipality in Piedmont, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, set on the western shore of Lake Maggiore between Verbania and Cannobio. The village is best known for the Sacro Monte della Santissima Trinità di Ghiffa, a complex of chapels built on a wooded hill overlooking the lake, which forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy. The town also retains memories of its industrial past in felt hat-making, an heritage now commemorated through a small museum dedicated to the craft. The lakeside, with its modest beaches and harbour, is well suited to leisurely walks and summer swimming, while the surrounding hills offer hiking trails with views towards the Alps and the distant Borromean Islands. The lake's moderating effect on the climate supports Mediterranean-style vegetation, including olive trees and camellias. Ghiffa makes for a peaceful base from which to explore the lakeside stretch of Piedmont, within easy reach of Stresa and the main attractions around Lake Maggiore.