Cette petite ville, située sur la côte ouest du lac Majeur, dans le golfe Borromée, est l'un des sites touristiques les plus visités du Piémont. Son territoire comprend trois des quatre îles Borromées : l'île Bella, l'île Madre et l'île Superiora, également appelée île des Pêcheurs. La première mention écrite de la ville date de 998, mais déjà à l'époque romaine, la route reliant Milan au col du Sempione passait par ce site.

The chief town of Ossola valley stands on the track of an ancient Roman way leading from Milan to Sempione pass. The settlement grew especially in the Renaissance, under the protection of Visconti and Sforza families, from Milan. Since 1906, when the Sempione tunnel was inaugurated, the district became strategic for commercial exchanges and it prospered also thanks to hydroelectric power stations. The town centre features outstanding attractions, such ad the 15th century Piazza del Mercato and the 16th century Palazzo Silva.

The site of this small town was initially inhabited during the Roman age, but then abandoned due to the frequent floods by river Melezzo; in the 5th century, the church of Santa Maria Maggiore was founded and later, in the 13th century, a village grew again around the church itself. Today, Santa Maria Maggiore is well known for being a winter sports locations and for its Christmas Markets.

This charming city is a well known tourist destination, favored by a pleasant climate, and the seat of the second oldest film festival after Venice (first edition in 1946). During the Roman age, it was connected to Oscella (now Domodossola) by the Via Vigezzina, whose track is now followed by a panoramic railroad. Later in the Renaissance age, it was controlled by the Visconti family from Milan, who turned the pristine fortress into a stately home.