Outdoor activities, bookshops, photographic studios, haberdasheries and gift shops: this is a complete list with info and useful contacts for your holidays!

ASD CASCINA LA PRESACIA

Situated in the heart of the pinewood in Santa Maria Maggiore, “Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Cascina La Presacia” is a heaven of peace for horses and riders in Valle Vigezzo. Cascina La Presacia proposes riding courses and lessons for children, teenagers and grown-ups and it shows great respect for the territory and the horses in order to enjoy the fascinating mountain landscapes, riding an extraordinary “travel companion”. ASD Cascina La Presacia organizes also horse riding summer camps for children over 5 years of age. The experience aims to enjoy this outdoor activity, respecting the horse that can represent a playmate as well as an extraordinary partner, which can help children to build respectful friendships. This is a unique opportunity for children, who love animals – and in particular horses – to learn the basics of riding, to live together with other children for a few weeks and to respect the rhythms and rules of nature.

Via Pittor Belcastro, località Pineta
+39 338 6692958
+39 333 4440880
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IL ROSSO E IL BLU – BOOKSHOP AND PUBLISHER

This cosy bookshop run by Wally Mazzi offers an exhaustive panorama of the national and local publications, especially the ones dealing with the mountain. If you are lucky, you can even meet here the writer Benito Mazzi and receive good advice for your literary shopping. The bookshop “Il Rosso e il Blu” is situated in Via Rosmini, 20. It offers a wide choice of books: essay publications, narrative literature, young-adult and children’s literature. It is specialized in publications concerning the local culture of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and especially of Valle Vigezzo, whose colours are red and blue. Il Rosso E Il Blu is also a publisher and boasts a catalogue with more than 40 publications.

Via Rosmini 20
+39 0324 94996
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IMMAGINE – MAURIZIO BESANA’S PHOTO STUDIO

Since 1989 Maurizio Besana has been a point of reference in Santa Maria Maggiore in the field of photography. His photographic studio is situated in Via Cadorna, 15 and it offers digital photo developing and photo printing. Maurizio is vice-president of “Confartigianato Piemonte” and president of “Confartigianato Comunicazione”. Maurizio Besana took thousands of photos that now compose a rich and interesting archive: images of Ossola, photos of journeys all around the world, classic pictures (marriages, events…). All these photos convey special emotions, the same emotions that have always inspired the work of “the photographer of Valle Vigezzo”.

Via Cadorna 15
+39 0324 94640
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L’ANGOLINO DI SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE

“L’Angolino” is a little “historic” shop of Santa Maria Maggiore. Since 2011 Giulia – the creative owner – has been designing original souvenirs and gadgets of Santa Maria Maggiore and Valle Vigezzo. The shop offers a rich variety of items dedicated to the chimney sweeps: little souvenirs of the amazing International Meeting of Chimney Sweeps that takes place every year in Santa Maria Maggiore. Pixies, funny little owls, small mountain animals and wood-objects are on sale here. A special section is dedicated to the original wooden hand-made creations, following the ancient alpine tradition, as for example the curious secret wooden boxes. The shops proposes also little handicrafts made of leather, paper and clay. You can find here special gifts for anyone and you can also personalize your present.

Via Rosmini 6
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LA MERCERIA DA MICHELA

The haberdashery was opened by Michela in 2000 and it is situated in the old town centre of Santa Maria Maggiore. It offers quality yarn, comfortable women’s wear, refined lingerie and underwear, pretty clothing for children (0 -16 years), household linen.
Closed on Tuesdays, open on Sunday morning from 10am to 12pm. Open every day in July and August.

Piazza Risorgimento 6
+39 0324 94523

PRAUDINA ADVENTURE PARK

In the area of Pineta in Santa Maria Maggiore the new Praudina Adventure Park was opened in the summer of 2016. This new sports facility can be appreciated for its low environmental impact. It is run by ASD Pulsar. Your children can enjoy here new exciting outdoor activities. In summer 2017 a 10m high climbing wall was opened to the public. It is possible to choose between two different climbing routes and to enjoy a guided activity of two hours, a sort of brief climbing course.

Pineta
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