Casa dell’arco

The so called “Casa dell’arco” (i.e. “House of the Arch”) has been the subject of many paintings, engravings and old photos.

Its airy porch, which is recognizable from afar, and perhaps unique in the whole Verbano area due to the wide radius of its arch, distinguishes the house from all the other buildings on the island.

The building has undergone several changes over the centuries, especially the south-facing façade, where a balcony was added; the side arch, which once was complete, has been partly buffered. The wide covered space was once used by fishermen to mend fishing nets and store boats; it also provided shelter on rainy days or on very hot summer ones.

One of the cellars (which today are used as storages for the restaurants) hosted a small carpenter’s shop, where boats were repaired and built, according to an old tradition in use until the late 1940s.