Cortili in Arte in Dagnente

A day of art in the courtyards of Dagnente

Cortili in Arte transforms the village of Dagnente—a small hillside hamlet in the municipality of Arona, in the province of Novara—into an open-air cultural trail for one day. Residents open their private courtyards and historic spaces to welcome visitors, artists, and curious onlookers in a celebration of beauty, where contemporary creativity engages with the roots of the local area.

An immersive exhibition route

The heart of the event is a widespread art exhibition: over twenty open courtyards host works and installations by more than thirty artists. As you wander through the village streets, you will discover paintings, sculptures, and creations of all kinds, in an itinerary that blends art with the most evocative and authentic corners of Dagnente. The route is further enriched by guided tours dedicated to local history, designed to help the public discover the origins of the village and its most significant landmarks.

Crafts, flavors, and music

Beyond the artistic component, the day features a farmers' market with local products and a beekeeping workshop, hosted by Apicoltura Bertelli, which explains the importance of bees and pollinators in an educational format suitable for families. The festival concludes with music, featuring a concert by the San Giorgio Music Band of Mercurago, providing a final moment of connection between residents and guests.

Dagnente, the village of the Colossus

Dagnente is set in a charming hillside landscape, a short distance from the Colossus of Saint Charles Borromeo, the famous 35-meter-tall monumental statue erected between the 17th and late 17th centuries, which was long the tallest in the world. The hamlet is also linked to the 19th-century poet and playwright Felice Cavallotti, who owned a small house here where he loved to stay, and to whom the organizing Pro Loco association is dedicated. It is in this setting, between the greenery and the shores of Lake Maggiore, that the event restores the village's most communal dimension.

A participatory and free event

Cortili in Arte is organized by the Pro Loco Felice Cavallotti Tourist Association of Dagnente in collaboration with the "La Fenice 2.0" Artistic and Cultural Laboratory Association. Admission is free and open to everyone: a welcome point, set up at the playground, greets visitors and assists those who wish to follow the entire itinerary through the courtyards of the Arona hamlet.