Retreats and spiritual exercises on Lake Maggiore: the Casa Maria Mazzarello in Verbania

On the hill of Zoverallo, above Verbania, the Casa per Ferie Maria Mazzarello is a simple, quiet place overlooking Lake Maggiore. It offers and hosts retreats and spiritual exercises: a place to find time for yourself, for your group and for the spiritual life.

Who it is for

The house welcomes parish groups, religious communities, associations and movements looking for a secluded setting for a retreat. During the year it also organises programmes, meetings and courses with moments of prayer, listening and reflection, open to anyone who would like to take part.

Spaces for the group

Meeting rooms for meditations and group work.
The chapels, for personal prayer and celebrations.
A panoramic park with a viewpoint overlooking the lake, a natural terrace above the landscape.
Well-kept rooms and private parking.

The park, an open-air meeting room

The park is an integral part of what the house offers. It lends itself to:

slow walks and meditation;
outdoor yoga;
moments of silence and prayer;
reading and study;
group meetings in the open air.

From the morning light to the calm of sunset, the viewpoint offers a different panorama every day: a natural invitation to recollection.

How to organise the retreat

Protect the silence. Agree times of silence with the group and use the park for personal prayer.
A meeting outdoors. When the weather allows, take a session out into the park: the change of scene renews people’s attention.
The right seasons. The lakeside blossoms in spring, the colours of the woods and the stillness in autumn: these are the best times for a retreat.
Half a day on the lake. The gardens of Villa Taranto and the Borromean Islands are close by, for a group outing.