Sancarlone Museum

Sancarlone, commonly called the Colossus of San Carlo Borromeo, is a large bronze statue of Saint Charles Borromeo standing beside Lake Maggiore in Arona, Piedmont. It dates from the 17th century and is one of the region’s most recognisable monumental statues.

The statue is hollow and visitors can enter a narrow internal stair that leads to small viewing platforms in the chest and head, offering close-up views of the statue’s interior and panoramas over the lake and town. The monument sits immediately above Arona’s lakeside area and is visible from the adjoining shore.

Construction began in the 17th century and the work was completed during that same century; the figure was intended as a permanent, large-scale devotional monument. Over time the surface and internal access have undergone conservation and repair to keep the monument open to the public.

The statue stands on the outskirts of the town of Arona on the southern shore of Lake Maggiore in northern Piedmont. It directly overlooks the lake and the surrounding lakeside promenade and park.

• Interior access: Access to the interior is via a narrow stairway; spaces are confined and require careful footing.
• Best viewpoints: Best photo angles are from the lakeside promenade of Arona and the opposite shore of Lake Maggiore, which show the statue’s full scale against the water.

What to See#

• Interior viewing platforms: The hollow bronze statue contains an internal spiral staircase leading to small viewing platforms in the chest and head, reached through narrow passages and low doorways.

Arona is on the main rail line along Lago Maggiore and is easily reached from Milan in about an hour by train. From Arona station the Sancarlone is a short walk along the lakeside promenade and up a hill.

• Climb inside the Sancarlone if accessible - internal stairways offer a unique vantage and the engineering up close is remarkable.
• Combine the visit with a walk around Arona's lakeside and the small historic centre.
• Wear comfortable shoes for the climb - internal steps can be steep and narrow.