A municipality in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, located in the mountains of northwestern shore of Lake Orta, between the Valsesia and the Valley of Strona, the main center is concentrated around the church of St. Nicholas, while the rest of the area is dotted with houses built on terraces. Even though it is situated at less than one mile from the homonymous center, known as Quarna Sopra, it differs from this considerably, by culture and dialect. Due to its location, that has kept it away from the main roads for years, the center has kept its cultural identity intact, free from external contamination. There are several many highlands that can be reached from the village, which make of it the ideal departure point for excursions to Mount Cross and the Massive of the Turlo.
The two communities of Quarna Sopra and Quarna Sotto were both founded by the Karmi, a population of Celtic origins. The recent discovery in the district of Castellaccio of the remains of a late-Roman Tower evidence that the area was colonized by the Romans. The settlement was mentioned for the first time in documents dating from the XII century and was included in the Signoria (Lordship) of Omegna. It is famous for being the birth place, in the first half of the XIX century, of the flute maker "Turni", who established here a small factory. Since then, several citizens have imitated him and became craftsmen of musical instruments.
Attractions:
- the Parish Church of St. Nicholas of Myra, expanded in the XVIII century, built on the remains of an existing building of uncertain date. It is flanked by a tower with a square base and preserves inside a fine polychrome marble altar and an XVIII century organ placed to replace the pre-existing one;
- the XVII century Oratory of the Saliente, located on the pathway to the pastures. It was enlarged in the XVIII century and decorated with frescoes by Dell' Avondo in the early years of the next century;
- the Museum of Ethnography and of Woodwind Musical Instruments, in which about 300 instruments and the various stages of their construction are on exhibition.