Festival of Our Lady of 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 Madonna di Paullo. An annual religious festival is dedicated to this sanctuary, which at the beginning of August draws faithful and visitors for a moment of reflection and tradition.

A sanctuary steeped in history and art

The current church was rebuilt after World War II 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 above all an event for the community of the Croce district of Menaggio. The celebration, which culminates in the morning with the religious service, is an opportunity 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 crowded tourism of the lake shores.