San Mamete is a splendid village perched on top of a hill and watered by the waters of Lake Lugano. Its structure, with narrow and impervious alleys, porticoes overlooking the lake and small pedestrian squares, is typical of lakeside villages, romantic and evocative.
S. Mamete (271 m) is located on a small promontory at the point where the Soldo river flows into the Ceresio. It has a picturesque little square, surrounded by porticoes that continue to the lake. In this square, once not crossed by the Regina state road, the commercial and administrative activities of the valley took place.
Currently there are some bars, shops, banks and a hotel. Walking along suggestive alleys, in the upper part of the town, you arrive at the old mill and the ancient spinning mill, now in ruins. Via Bellotti leads to the town hall where, in the council room, you can admire two paintings by the Valsoldese painter Paolo Pagani. In one "The Sacrifice of Isaac" is represented and in the other a "Saint with two putti".
The Soldo river divides the core of the town from the Casarico area, where you can admire Villa Claudia, once Villa Lezzeni, with its beautiful park. The villa has a private oratory dedicated to S. Filippo Neri. The story of the Piccolo Mondo Antico begins at the Casarico pier, which sees the Pasottis arriving from the path that led to Albogasio on a gray stormy day, about to embark for Cressogno. A lunch awaits them, offered by the Marchesa Maironi, based on risotto and truffles.
At the beginning of the staircase an archiepiscopal coat of arms and an inscription inviting people not to resort to the courts identify a building which in feudal times was used as a Praetorium. It is now a parish house and a chapel has been created in place of the old prisons. At the top of the staircase is the Parish Church. Further on is one of the three Oratories of San Carlo, built in 1610 on the occasion of the canonization of the archbishop. The circular-shaped temple was designed by Domenico Tibaldi, Pellegrini's nephew. Inside is a canvas with a portrait of the Saint. Popular devotion tells that St. Charles, on the occasion of his second visit to Valsolda, while climbing towards the upper valley, leaned against the rock leaving an imprint with his hand. The faithful carved a cross at that point and subsequently that place was chosen to build the Oratory.
Source: Valsolda municipality website
Translated by Google •
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