Camellia Festival

The festival celebrating spring on Lake Maggiore

In Cannero Riviera, a lovely town in the Piedmontese province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, spring arrives with the colors of camellias. The mild microclimate of Lake Maggiore has always made this corner of the Piedmontese shore an ideal terrain for cultivating these delicate plants, which find shelter from the cold here and bloom in hundreds of varieties. The Camellia Festival was created specifically to showcase this botanical heritage and the tradition of the historic gardens that dot the village and its hamlets.

Exhibitions, markets, and walks

The event spans two days. The heart of the exhibition is the Sala Pietro Carmine, in the Lido area, where the camellia display and creative works by local students are showcased. Along the lakefront, hobbyist and artisan markets take place, while for those who love to walk, free guided tours are available to discover the blooms: in the historic center and in the picturesque Cheggio Camellia Woods, one of the hillside hamlets of Cannero.

An event for the whole family

Alongside the botanical aspect, the festival offers creative workshops designed for children, musical moments, and tastings that change from year to year. Admission to all activities is free, in line with the welcoming spirit of a village that thrives on slow tourism and a love for its landscape.

Cannero Riviera and its surroundings

Beyond the festival, Cannero Riviera offers unique views of Lake Maggiore: the lakefront, the Castelli di Cannero emerging from the waters, and the trails leading to the hamlets of Cheggio and Oggiogno. The Camellia Festival is the perfect opportunity to discover this stretch of the Piedmontese lake at its most colorful time of year, when the gardens light up and the air smells of spring.