landmark
Isola Bella
A tiny island in Lake Maggiore transformed into an extravagant Baroque palace and garden by the Borromeo family.
27 km · about 30 min drive
EuropeItalyPiedmont
Santa Maria Maggiore
Piedmont, Italy · Europe
About Santa Maria Maggiore
Santa Maria Maggiore works well as a base: 10 minutes from Villette, 35km from Simplon Pass.
Santa Maria Maggiore is in Piedmont, Italy, with about 1,300 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Villette, about 6 km away.
Santa Maria Maggiore (Ossolano: Santa Marìa) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian region Piedmont, in Valle Vigezzo, located about 130 kilometres (81 mi) northeast of Turin and about 25 kilometres (16 mi) north of Verbania, on the border with Switzerland. As of 31 DecemberRead more
2004, it had a population of 1,236 and an area of 53.2 square kilometres (20.5 mi2).
Santa Maria Maggiore borders the following municipalities: Campo (Vallemaggia) (Switzerland), Craveggia, Druogno, Malesco, Masera, Montecrestese, Toceno, Trontano, Vergeletto (Switzerland).
Santa Maria Maggiore is located on the narrow gauge Domodossola–Locarno railway, also known as the Vigezzo railway (Italian: Vigezzina) which negotiates the rugged Italian Alps terrain between Domodossola, Italy, on the east and Locarno, Switzerland, on the west. It also passes through the villages of Intragna, and Malesco.
Where to Stay in Santa Maria Maggiore
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Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Santa Maria Maggiore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Santa Maria Maggiore?
Within an hour or so of Santa Maria Maggiore: Isola Bella (27 km), Stresa (29 km), Stresa & Borromean Islands (29 km), Verzasca Dam (GoldenEye bungee jump) (30 km).
Are there any good drives near Santa Maria Maggiore?
The nearest famous roads are Simplon Pass, Nufenen Pass and Gotthard Pass.
Where is Santa Maria Maggiore?
Santa Maria Maggiore is in Piedmont, Italy, about 6 km from Villette.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,264
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Piedmont
- Timezone
- Europe/Rome
- Coordinates
- 46.1368, 8.4611
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Italy
ACI roadside assistance: 803 116. ZTL (limited traffic zones) in city centres are camera-enforced.
Full driving guide for ItalyTags
Worth the detour from Santa Maria Maggiore
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Stresa
An elegant resort town on the western shore of Lake Maggiore offering panoramic views of the Borromean Islands.
29 km · about 35 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Stresa & Borromean Islands
An elegant belle-époque resort on Lake Maggiore, gateway to the palatial Borromean Islands and their baroque gardens.
29 km · about 35 min drive
film location
Verzasca Dam (GoldenEye bungee jump)
Bond's 220m backwards bungee off this Swiss arch dam opens GoldenEye; commercial jumps still operate from the same crest.
30 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Contra Dam (Verzasca)
The 220 m arch dam of GoldenEye's opening leap, voted the greatest movie stunt of all time: where the Val Verzasca road crosses the crest and a commercial 007 bungee jump operates in season.
31 km · about 35 min drive
photogenic
Ponte dei Salti
A 17th-century double-arch stone bridge over the Verzasca's emerald pools at Lavertezzo; cliff-jumpers and photographers share granite slabs polished smooth by impossibly clear green water.
32 km · about 35 min drive
famous road
Simplon Pass
A historic Alpine crossing at 2,005 meters built by Napoleon, connecting Switzerland's Valais to Italy's Piedmont.
35 km · about 40 min drive
mountain pass
Nufenen Pass
The highest paved pass entirely within Switzerland at 2478m, offering a remote, uncrowded driving experience with panoramic high-altitude views.
38 km · about 45 min drive
Driving roads near Santa Maria Maggiore
9 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 60km.
- 29 kmStresa & Borromean IslandsAn elegant belle-époque resort on Lake Maggiore, gateway to the palatial Borromean Islands and their baroque gardens.
- 35 kmSimplon PassA historic Alpine crossing at 2,005 meters built by Napoleon, connecting Switzerland's Valais to Italy's Piedmont.
- 38 kmNufenen PassThe highest paved pass entirely within Switzerland at 2478m, offering a remote, uncrowded driving experience with panoramic high-altitude views.
- 38 kmSacro Monte di Orta & Lake OrtaA serene small lake with island San Giulio and a wooded UNESCO sacred mountain of frescoed chapels above the village.
- 38 kmNufenen Pass (Passo della Novena)Switzerland's highest fully-paved through pass at 2,478m, connecting the Valais to Ticino.
- 47 kmGotthard PassHistoric Swiss pass with cobblestone sections and modern tunnel
Driving in Italy
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€8.50/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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