Comabbio is a small town in the province of Varese located on a fascinating tiny pre-Alpine lake of glacial origin that offers enchanting landscapes a short distance from the Ticino river, the Lombard shore of Lake Maggiore and south of the lakes of Monate and Varese.
This territory is nlivened by a marvelous wilderness all around with the great opportunity to see there various species of birds and fish that find in this small lake basin the ideal habitat to reproduce.
Once you are in the municipal terms of Comabbio you can enjoy a relaxing walk on the local, small beach of the lake which has a very small surface area of about 4.0 square kilometers, a maximum depth of 8.0 meters,3.6 kilometers long and 1.4 kilometers wide with a development of its coastal ridge that is approximately 9.0 kilometers.
In ancient times, the lake was connected to Lake Varese and the nearby lake of Monate in 2000 BC, all confirmed by the discovery of a large number of aquifers flowing underground that feed this neighboring lake basin.
Its waters are overlooked by only four small municipalities , namely Comabbio itself, Mercallo, Ternate, Varano Borghi and one town, Vergiate.
Surrounded by gentle hillsides and dense wooded areas with a marvelous wilderness this place has long been well known and loved by birdwatchers.
Linked to that aspect, there are numerous opportunities to sighted in this area that includes the Brabbia Marsh which was awarded the title by the Ministry of Agriculture as a Wetland of International Importance .
Numerous are the species of birds that can be sighted, including some birds of prey such as Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Short-eared Owl and Short-eared Owl, Buzzard.
In addition to them other species formed colonies on this basin such as Bluethroat, Rail, Heron, Green Woodpecker, Red Woodpecker, Common Reed Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Snipe, Tobacco Duck and many other aquatic birds that nest and reproduce especially on the southern shore of the lake including a large colony of ducks.
On Lake Comabbio navigation with motor boats is forbidden it is a basin rich in fish which has allowed the notable reproduction of a large number of species such as tench, perch, sun perch, largemouth bass, pike perch, carp, catfish, common pike, rudd, catfish and also eels and freshwater shrimps.
Another noteworthy aspect is the remarkable presence of floral species, among which the famous nymph stands out, which covers some sections of the basin forming a very suggestive scenery, while in winter, if temperatures drop below zero and freeze, it is used as a skating rink.
Comabbio also boast a relevant monumental part that consists of a small medieval center originally surrounded by walls with two watchtowers and separated into two sections as in today's times, namely the part overlooking the lake and the upper area.
I suggest starting the visit from the Church of San Giacomo dating back to the 16th century, erected on the foundations of the medieval Church of Santa Maria of which it has maintained the Romanesque bell tower, a structure that during its history according to documentations has experienced numerous stages of transformation.
The structure, visible today with a single nave, ends with a barrel vault splendidly frescoed in 1500 and with the chapel of the Madonna Assunta which was a possession of the noble Besozzi family developed on its northern side containing a canvas depicting the Virgin Mary of the Assumption made by an unknown artist.
You will then notice a plaque with the digitura 1608 probably corresponding to the date of completion of the works, other canvases by unidentified painters of the seventeenth-century school depicting the Four Doctors of the Church and a couple of others executed by the Milanese artist Paolo Bozzi made in the 20th century.
Remarkable is an eighteenth-century scagliola frontal made by Giovanni Battista Rapa , an artist who was the proponent of other works in the high altar that boasts refined black marble balustrades with columns, valuable stuccoes, frescoes and Baroque canvases of the Lombard school.
Continuation with the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary located in the upper part of Comabbio which is heir to the old Oratory of the Chapel of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary founded by Friar Dionigi Besozzi, a building that was erected in the seventeenth century on the foundations of the medieval church dedicated to San Giacomo d' Alfeo dating back to the twelfth century.
According to historical documentation, the architectural profile remained unfinished but has many similarities with the Chapels of the Sacro Monte in Varese.
The white plastered façade precedes a bell tower located at the back of the main body and inside you can admire a beautiful baroque altar decorated in gilded wood where lies the wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary, a sculpture of the seventeenth century present in this building as earlyas 1683 according to archives connected to a pastoral visit to the site by Cardinal Federico Visconti.
In the twentieth century, the active parish priest Battista Crespi, spurred on by Cardinal Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster of the Diocese of Milan, receiving a letter dated 1939, decided to bring back the Sanctuary that had been transformed into a theater and since then there has been a return of Marian faith with pilgrims who came in large numbers to Comabbio.
Time for your lunch, remaining in the typical local gastronomy I recommend among the first courses Rice in Cagnone or Potato Gnocchi with Butter and Sage, among the second courses chosen between Steamed Trout Fillet with Boiled Potatoes with Rosemary or Roast Veal with Sautéed Mushrooms.
Visiting Comabbio is a splendid mix of art, history, nature that combined together make up a day of tourism that is always pleasant and to be remembered over time.
Link : https://www.comune.comabbio.va.it/
Where to Stay | Recommended Accomodation
Hotel Villa Borghi
Residence Montelago
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