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You are here: San Maurizio d`Opaglio
The commune of San Maurizio d’Opaglio includes a territory that covers the whole area from the lake shores (290 meters above seal level) to the Parish Church of San Maurizio (370 meters) and up to Briallo (500 meters), one of the hamlets.During the XVIth century, San Maurizio d’Opaglio was just a parish that reunited the two parishes of Briallo, uphill, and Lagna, on Lake Orta shores. In 1590 was the consecration of the new church, built on a former oratory and consecrated to San Maurizio, an already worshipped saint in the country. However, the toponym “Opaglio” was already attested during 1100.
Lagna is, among San Maurizio`s hamlets, the sole that directly overlooks the lake. It is also the oldest one but it can show its splendours even today. The suburb is full of noble looking dwellings, simple-structure buildings adorned with some flowery elements, such as granite columns or friezes and bas-reliefs.
A paved alley leads to the Lake taking the visitor to exciting spots, such as the ancient mill along the route. From the lake you can get to one of the most charming places of the coast: Punta Lagna, a strip of earth that wedges itself in Cusio waters and where St. Julius Island view is peerless, as well as Orta on the opposite shore, Pella and Alzo surrounded by the mountains in the same west shore. Just outside the suburb, an ancient Roman bridge goes up to San Maurizio. Continuing with climbing, you will rich the second hamlet, Briallo, from where a path, which is nowadays called Il sentiero degli scalpellini, goes up to the Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso, commanding over the valley.
Many are the villages and hamlets included in the commune: Sazza, Pascolo, Opagliolo and Alpiolo are situated on the lake shores. We also mention the oratory of St. Julius, between Pascolo and Opagliolo: according to the traditions, it was built in the narrow valley sloping down towards the lake where St. Julius himself dwelled on praying before crossing its waters towards the Island infested with snakes, using his mantle as a raft. Near the church there is a miraculous source, whose waters restored to health the sick persons, a pilgrim destination.
The small church is preceded by a porch with a frontal arch and a side one on the right: it is an enlargement of a former chapel occurred during the second half of the XVIth century, after San Carlo Borromeo`s visit in 1573. Just one of the frescos that adorned the end wall is still intact, showing the Virgin Mary, St. James and St. Julius.
On the contrary, Ravegna is more uphill and it offers a panoramic view over the entire country: the testimony of an ancient profession that would employ San Maurizio`s inhabitants in the past. Porches and arcades made of granite reveal how the stone-cutter was one of the most common professions in the country during the XIXth century.
San Maurizio`s economy radically changed during the XIXth century: at the beginning of the century the main activity employed the inhabitants in the mines, especially in Alzo, near Pella. After the First World War a new industry began developing: the taps and fittings’ one. The first factories stood in Gozzano, then in Pogno and finally in San Maurizio, during the 1920s. From then on, a big industrial development concerned this field, especially during the 1950s. Moreover, San Maurizio has dedicated a museum to this activity, in order to remind people how hard has been the task of fighting against water during the centuries.
Finally, San Maurizio d’Opaglio offers many facets to the visitors: the Lake and its shores as well as hills and mountains up to Briallo; history and art in many villages and San Maurizio`s hamlets; traditions and professions that pass by one after the other during the centuries and that leave clear signs of their presence in hamlets and even in mountain pastures, such as the late XIXth century stone-cutter tradition or the industrial taps and fittings’ activity that now determines the identity of this community.