Lago Maggiore is a beautiful location in Italy and the area has a rich history which is reflected in the museums which can be visited. The following is a guide to some of the more interesting museums that can be visited in the towns around the region.

The Landscape Museum

With Lago Maggiore being a beautiful location it has inspired many artists to paint and many of these paintings are now displayed in the Landscape Museum in Pallanza. The museum is located on Via Ruga in the Viani-Dugnani Mansion and has been exhibiting paintings for many years. It contains many notable paintings from important Italian artists and also has archeological and sculpture exhibits. The museum is open from April to October every day except Mondays. Opening hours are 10.00-12.00 and 15.30-18.30.

The Umbrella Museum

A more unusual museum located in Gignese is the Umbrella Museum. Opened originally in 1939, this museum has displays and exhibits of umbrellas through the ages. This takes you from the parasols of the 1800’s all the way through to the modern day. It also showcases the history of some of the umbrella makers who lived in the area and gives an explanation of their dialect which was known as ‘Tarusc’. Entrance fee is Euros 2.50 and the museum is open everyday except Mondays between April and September. Opening hours are 10.00-12.00 and 15.00-18.00

The Chimney Sweep Museum

The area around Lago Maggiore was known for many years as the land of the chimney sweeps and many of the population travelled around European cities working in the trade. This museum showcases some of this history and has many of the work tools which were used. It also has exhibits of chimney sweep mementos and artifacts from all over Europe and America. The museum is located in the Villa Antonia in Santa Maria and opening hours are 10.00-12.00 and 15.00-18.00. These museums will provide the visitor to the Lago Maggiore area a fascinating glimpse into the history of the region