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Armeno

Armeno is the most populous village of the west shore, obviously just after Omegna - which encloses the east coast to the north - with its 2200 inhabitants.
It is the next village along the slope on the road climbing Mount Mottarone, as well as the commune where the majority of the west side of the mountains separating Lake Orta from Lake Maggiore are included.

Its history, that shows evidence of prehistoric settlements, is related to the Riviera’s one by its medieval origins: the suburb was one of the most populous and important in Cusio area, and today it is still demonstrated by the stateliness of the parish church, consecrated to Our Lady of the Assumption and dated back to the XIIth century.

The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption is undoubtedly one of the greatest examples - as well as one of the best preserved – of Novara Romanesque art and, according to popular traditions, it was founded by Julius himself. It was built on the remains of an ancient Romanesque small temple and consecrated to Our Lady of the Assumption during the early XIIth century.
The stately façade is divided into three sections and a portal. On the left side is a long-limbed square-structured bell tower, dated back to the same century, with two double and triple lancet windows at the top. Even inside Romanesque art is dominating, with three aisles separated by huge pillars with zoomorphic-shaped capitals. Some valuable frescos enrich the interior.

A place full of history and art, filled with the spirituality that Romanesque art spreads out through its stones, colours and paintings.

A country charged with traditions connected to the agricultural world of the peasants, Armeno is yet known in the world as the village of hotel keepers: they were a large number, according to a tradition that takes root in the past and which tells of many villagers who emigrated to foreign countries. Nowadays they gather on the occasion of the “Feast of the cooks” in November, and they come from all over the world. Today, a museum consecrated to the hotel keepers highlights today this side of the village history, peculiar but real, as a lot of documents testify.

Armeno is full of art, history and traditions: it can even offer the landscape and natural richness of the gentle slopes of Mount Mottarone, toward which you will run into Cheggino or Agogna valley and its hamlets Sovazza and Coiromonte, and the views that, from different places, included Bassola toward Omegna, opens on Lake Orta.