Festa della Madonna di Paullo

The Festa della Madonna di Paullo: devotion above the lake

In the hamlet of Croce in Menaggio, the highest village of the municipality overlooking Lake Como in the Province of Como, stands the small church of the Madonna di Paullo. An annual religious festival is dedicated to this sanctuary, which, at the beginning of August, draws the faithful and visitors for a moment of reflection and tradition.

A sanctuary steeped in history and art

The current church was rebuilt after the Second World War on the remains of an ancient chapel. Despite its intimate size, it houses important works of sacred art, including a valuable 17th-century wooden statue of the Madonna dei Dolori and colourful stained-glass windows made by the renowned H. Derix workshop in Kevelaer, Germany. Its elevated position offers a picturesque view of the western branch of the lake.

A community festival

The Festa della Madonna di Paullo is primarily an event for the community of the Croce di Menaggio district. The celebration, culminating in the morning with a religious service, is an occasion to gather around a place of identity, a guardian of the faith and memory of this upper part of Menaggio. For those visiting Lake Como in the summer, climbing to Croce for the festival means discovering an authentic and little-known corner, far from the more crowded tourism of the lake shores.