Galleria all'aperto dell'affresco di Arcumeggia

About the museum

Arcumeggia is a hamlet of Casalzuigno, in the Valcuvia, at about 570 metres above sea level. In 1956 the Ente Provinciale per il Turismo di Varese launched the “Pittori in vacanza” (Painters on Holiday) project here, with the aim of enhancing the village and countering depopulation of the mountain areas: some of the leading Italian artists of the time painted directly on the exterior walls of the houses.

Among the authors are Aligi Sassu, Giuseppe Migneco, Remo Brindisi, Gianni Dova, Achille Funi, Ernesto Treccani and Aldo Carpi. The number of frescoes varies according to the sources, from about twenty to around forty. The scenes depict religious themes, daily life, traditional trades, the villagers and allegorical subjects.

In 1957 the Casa del Pittore (House of the Painter) was opened, originally as a residence for the artists and today housing sketches, preparatory cartoons and other materials documenting the work. From 1961 the village has hosted summer fresco courses for students from Italian and European academies; their works are displayed along the Via degli Allievi. In the church of Sant'Ambrogio there is a Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) with fourteen stations by different artists.

Highlights

• Frescoes by artists such as Sassu, Migneco, Brindisi, Dova and Funi on the façades of the houses
• Casa del Pittore with sketches and preparatory cartoons
• Via Crucis in the church of Sant'Ambrogio, with each station by a different artist
• Via degli Allievi with the works of the summer fresco courses
• View of Lake Maggiore and the Valcuvia

Permanent exhibition

• Galleria all’aperto dell’affresco – Walking route among the frescoes on the façades of the village, the Casa del Pittore and the Via Crucis in the church.

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Visiting the village and the frescoes is free of charge.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The village has cobbled lanes; no specific accessibility information is published.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By car: A8 Milano–Laghi motorway, exit Varese, then towards Laveno Mombello and Cuveglio.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.