Baveno is known throughout the world for its pink granite, a precious stone that has stood the test of time and come to decorate some of the planet’s most famous monuments.
The granite that conquered the world
From the 16th century onwards, granite extracted from the eastern slopes of Mottarone was used extensively, especially in Lombard architecture, and in the centuries that followed it was also exported abroad, initially making use of the area’s numerous waterways for transport. Baveno pink granite can now be found in the Arco della Pace and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, in the columns of the Paris Opéra, in the Church of St Charles in Vienna, in the Christopher Columbus Monument in New York and even in the Royal Palace in Bangkok.
The Church of Saints Gervaso and Protaso
Among the town’s religious buildings, the Church of Saints Gervaso and Protaso stands out, with its baptistery and portico decorated with scenes from the Stations of the Cross: a small treasure of sacred architecture that tells the story of this lakeside village’s identity.
The granite museum and the picasass
Inside the historic Palazzo Pretorio is a multimedia museum dedicated to pink granite and its historical and economic importance for Baveno, tracing the places and routes linked to stoneworking in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola area. Along the lakeside promenade, one of the most evocative on Lake Maggiore with views of the Borromean Islands, a monument is dedicated to the “picasass”, the local stonemasons who made Baveno famous around the world.
Baveno and Lake Maggiore
Baveno is just a few minutes from Stresa and the Borromean Islands, making it a natural stop for those exploring this part of the lake. To delve deeper into the history and itineraries linked to granite, refer to the Baveno Turismo website.
From Baveno, it is also easy to reach the Ossola hinterland, with its vineyards and tastings, for a striking contrast between stone, lake and vine.
Mottarone and the still-active quarries
The Mottarone quarries, on the Baveno side, are still partly active: some local businesses continue to extract and work pink granite using techniques that combine artisanal tradition with modern cutting tools, keeping alive a supply chain rooted in more than four centuries of history. Walking through the town centre, it is easy to notice how pink granite is everywhere: from pavements to the façades of historic buildings, right down to the architectural details of churches.
A future between tradition and innovation
Baveno’s granite industry continues to evolve, integrating modern cutting techniques with artisanal knowledge passed down through generations of stonemasons: a balance that allows this centuries-old tradition to remain economically sustainable even in today’s global market, while preserving the identity bond between the town and its stone.
One final curiosity: some of the stones quarried in Baveno have also been used in historic buildings on other continents, demonstrating the truly global reach of this local production.
A colour, a history, a legacy that has lasted for centuries.
Pink like granite, precious like few other materials in the world.
Pink like its granite, precious throughout the world.
One final note about Baveno: few building materials have travelled as widely as its pink granite, literally reaching every inhabited continent.
A colour, a stone, a legacy that has lasted for centuries.
A colour, a stone, a legacy that spans continents.
Baveno, with its pink granite quarries that have supplied material for monuments across Europe, combines industrial history and scenic beauty on Lake Maggiore, offering unique views of the Borromean Islands directly opposite its lakeside promenade.
Baveno’s quarries, some still active, remain visible from the lake, a tangible sign of the town’s industrial history.
