A vibrant street market takes place every Thursday morning along the lakeside boulevard. A daily ferry service links Omegna with the surrounding towns and villages along the lake.
The presence of ancient settlements in the area has been confirmed by excavations conducted in thefrazione of Cireggio, with archaeological findings dating back to the lateBronze andIron Ages. Omegna is first mentioned in 1221 AD, when the population swore allegiance to the commune ofNovara.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Omegna developed into an industrial center, serving as Italy's primary production hub for pots and small household appliances for many years. During this period, the population grew significantly due to immigration. In 1913 Omegna was connected withPallanza by an electrical tramway line. It was declared a city in 1939. DuringWorld War II, Omegna served as a center for partisan resistance against the German-Fascist occupation.
Church ofSant'Ambrogio. It is a late-Romanesque building with a nave and two aisles, with side chapels. The bell tower is still mostly the medieval one. The interior is now inBaroque style and houses an altarpiece by Fermo Stella da Caravaggio (1547) and an urn with the relics of St. Vith, patron saint of Omegna.
Ponte Antico ("Ancient Bridge", 15th century), over theStrona river.
Porta della Valle ("Valley Gate", c. 1100 AD), also known asPorta Romana. It is the only surviving one among the five medieval gates of Omegna.
