Villas in San Nazzaro
San Nazzaro suits couples and small groups wanting a quiet spot on the Gambarogno shore of Lake Maggiore, with a train stop. It is small, with hamlets and mostly forested hillside, so expect a quiet place rather than a resort.
- Villas
- 10
About San Nazzaro
San Nazzaro sits at 201 m on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, in the Locarno district of Ticino, and became part of the municipality of Gambarogno in 2010. About three quarters of its area is forest, and its hamlets are Casenzano, Taverna and Vairano. The parish church of SS Nazzaro e Celso was first mentioned in 1258 and rebuilt in 1790. Vairano also has the Botanical Garden of Gambarogno. Italian is the main language, with a sizeable German-speaking minority. The homes are small, sleeping around four to five, grouped near the village, with a private pool at some and a garden at most.
Is San Nazzaro right for you?
- Best for
- Couples wanting a quiet lakeside village
- Not for you if
- You want a lively waterfront with restaurants and nightlife, as San Nazzaro is a small village with hamlets.
Near San Nazzaro
Botanical Garden of Gambarogno
Between Piazzogna and Vairano, with hundreds of camellia and magnolia varieties. Open every day of the year, and dogs are welcome on a lead.
Brissago Islands
Two islands in the Swiss part of Lake Maggiore, near Ronco sopra Ascona. Passenger ferries run up and down the lake.
Locarno
Town on Lake Maggiore. Trains run to it from Bellinzona, which the S30 reaches from S. Nazzaro via Magadino.
Getting to San Nazzaro
S30 trains run from Milan Malpensa to Bellinzona along the eastern side of Lake Maggiore and stop at S. Nazzaro and Gerra. Lugano and Milan are the nearest larger airports to the lake. Passenger ferries also run on the lake, and a car widens your options.
Villas in San Nazzaro
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San Nazzaro villa holidays: questions answered
Is there a train station at San Nazzaro?
Yes. S30 trains between Milan Malpensa and Bellinzona stop at S. Nazzaro on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, so you can arrive without a car.
Can you visit a garden near San Nazzaro?
Yes, the Botanical Garden of Gambarogno is at Vairano, a hamlet of San Nazzaro, with camellias and magnolias. It opens every day of the year from 9:00 to 18:00, but check before a winter visit.
What language is spoken in San Nazzaro?
Mostly Italian. In 2000 about 70 per cent of residents spoke it as a first language and about a quarter spoke German, which is the second language here.
Is San Nazzaro part of Gambarogno?
Yes. San Nazzaro was a separate municipality until 2010, when it joined eight others to form Gambarogno, on the eastern side of Lake Maggiore.
Nearby towns to San Nazzaro
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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