Statue of San Carlone
Statue of San Carlone
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
1,062 reviews
Excellent
353
Very good
465
Average
194
Poor
35
Terrible
15
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Manuela
25 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
The area is beautiful but finding the park and statue closed was a disappointment. Perhaps we could organize opening only in the afternoon on weekends because it is unfortunate to arrive in the area and not visit the statue. In about half an hour there would have been around thirty people asking us about the closure of the site.
Written November 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nero Blu
Milan, Italy3,611 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Impressive... we got there on foot from Arona. More than 40 minutes. But it was worth it. To climb up to the terrace costs 7 euros to enter 10. In the heat I do not recommend the spiral staircase to climb up to the head. Eyes closed for restoration.
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Written August 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Talant2007
Moscow, Russia26,008 contributions
Aug 2024 • Solo
A statue of Saint Charles Borromeo (1538 - 1584), cardinal of the Catholic Church, was erected on a high ground in Arona. The statue was built between 1614 and 1698. The statue is 23.4m high and stands on a 12-metre pedestal. It was the tallest statue in the world for two centuries, surpassed only in 1886 by the 46-meter Statue of Liberty in New York.
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Written August 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AntonellaK2517HH
Arosio, Italy16 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
Beautiful park. Entering the statue was very nice but I could not climb all the way up. At first, very narrow spiral staircase. And so far, okay. But then, climb with ladder too difficult. Suitable only for very agile and trained people. They tell you at the ticket office you can do it. But they are wrong because it is for a few, to reach the top. I spent 10 euros to get only halfway. The park around the statue is magnificent. In addition to paid parking, there is a free parking adjacent. With lots of seats.
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Written September 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shameless
San Francisco, CA1,131 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
The San Carlone or “Colossus” of San Carlo Borromeo is a massive copper statue, erected between 1614 and 1698, near Arona, on Lake Maggiore, Italy. It represents Charles Borromeo, Catholic saint and former archbishop of Milan.
The statue was designed by Giovan Battista Crespi, (nicknamed Il Cerano). It was begun in 1614, soon after St Charles Borromeo's canonization. The 23.5-m statue is finished with sheets of hammered copper and joined with bolts. It stands on a granite pedestal, 11.5 metres high. The interior can be accessed by narrow stairs and ladders, allowing visitors to peer through the eyes and ears.
Maintenance through the centuries has kept the statue in good shape, however in order to visit it there’s a ticket of about $10 per person, which I think it’s worth.
Written August 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet M
3 contributions
May 2015
The statue has a great view over Lake Maggiore. Most visitors get to the viewing platform which you can see in the picture. It might not be worth paying the entry fee just for this, but from there you can climb a rather precarious set of ladders inside the statue into the head where you can look out from the eyes, ears and nose (or wave from the nose if you are trying to entertain a 10 year old!). We went on a fairly quiet day - I imagine that it could get a bit chaotic climbing and descending the ladders on a busy day, although there is an attendant who controls access. I also suspect that it could get very hot inside the statue in the height of summer as it was pretty warm in even May.
Written June 2, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nina
Ljubljana, Slovenia233 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
This is 35m high statue. In the middle of which is hollow and has a step up to the head. You can go to the beginning of the statue where is viewing platform ( where is very nice view, you can see Lago Maggiore and castle) or to the top of the head, but from the viewing platform to the head are not steps but ladder and you can look throw the Carlos eyes and nose.
Written August 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniela V
Cervo, Italia1,652 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
The Colossus stands 35 metres high including the pedestal. You climb inside it via a spiral staircase with 60 steps first, then a steel ladder with 85 rungs to reach St. Charles' s head, through whose eyes you gaze dizzingly down below. Beside the eyes, there are openings through the nostrils as well, and a couple of larger windows cut in the cowl at the rear of the statue, looking over the fabulous lake. It can become claustrophobic inside, given the narrowness of the passage, but it is well-worth the experience
Written October 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2mercury
Formby, UK256 contributions
Jun 2019 • Friends
Said to be only second in size to the Statue of Liberty in NewYork, the statue is impressive, but we thought not worth going out of your way for - pictures tell the same story.
There is an entrance fee allowing you to climb the many steps to the base and then to the viewing platform at the foot of the actual statue.
If you are passing make a visit, if not carry on th Arona and enjoy the lakeside walks.
There is an entrance fee allowing you to climb the many steps to the base and then to the viewing platform at the foot of the actual statue.
If you are passing make a visit, if not carry on th Arona and enjoy the lakeside walks.
Written July 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Libranthor
Bengaluru, India57 contributions
Apr 2018 • Solo
The statue along with its pedestal stands over 35 m tall. The statue is plated with Copper sheets on the outside. This is located near the bank of Lake Maggiore near Arona. This was the tallest statue till the statue of Liberty overtook it. The designer of the statue of liberty studied this statue before commencing work on the statue of liberty. One can reach the statue either by road or by foot from Arona. You also get a great view of the Lake Maggiore en route to this monument.
Written April 25, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Как попасть к статуе наиболее простым способом? От Ароны пешком идти долго, авто нет. Может автобус какой-нибудь ходит?
Written October 3, 2019
I have this irrational fear of heights... I am usually fine in buildings, but this looks like a vertiginous climb into the statue. Anyone with vertigo attempted this? How tall is the climb inside the status? Do you feel well protected as you go up/down? Are there a lot of people going and up/down at the same time? Thank you!
Written March 2, 2019
I have vertigo and found some pictures of the interior online. The last section especially looked like it would be a problem for me - just a ladder. I did not attempt it.
Written March 3, 2019
dal 20 marzo al 15 ottobre
aperto tutti i giorni: 9:00 – 12:20 / 14:00 – 18:15 (domenica e festivi: orario continuato)
Written September 11, 2018
Bonjour
Nous allons visiter les lacs Garde Majeur et Come
Pour la statue est ce ouvert en semaine et sinon qu'est ce qu'il faut surtout pas manquer
Nous sommes randonneurs
Mes salutations
Written April 2, 2016
CAB612014
Arona, Italy
Gentile signor Matteo,
relativamente alla sua recensione ci sembra doveroso farle sapere che la persona cui lei fa riferimento come addetto alle salite alla statua, è stato prontamente rimosso e sospeso dall'incarico.
Rinnoviamo a tutti le nostre scuse.
Cordialmente
Saluti dal personale della Statua di San Carlo
Antonio
Written July 25, 2015
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