Domodossola and Val d’Ossola

Ossola Valleys

Monte Rosa

In the north-west of Lake Maggiore, the Ossola valleys are a beautiful small region with its own charm, bordering and mountainous, between alpine landscapes, small lakes, picturesque villages, or the old stone houses of the Walsers.
Thanks to its countless trails, it is particularly attractive for hikers, from the Val Vigezzo to the east crossed by a small railway line, to the slopes of Monte Rosa to the west, the second highest peak in Europe with its 4637 metres. The western border is also made up of the Alpe Veglia e Devero natural park, famous for its terroir, with dozens of types of cheese and its beautiful sausages.
The Val Grande National Park separates to the south the Val d’Ossola from Lake Maggiore, and is one of the most important nature reserves in Italy, dominated by Monte Mottac.
Domodossola is the capital of the province, and the other large towns are further south with Vogogna, then Mergozzo and its small lake near Lake Maggiore.

Domodossola

Piazza Mercato, Domodosola

It is the capital of the Val d’Ossola, at the centre of seven alpine valleys, separated from Lake Maggiore further east by the massif and nature reserve of Val Grande.
Its historic centre, around the Piazza Mercato (Market Square), is not very large but is remarkably well preserved. It is the main attraction of the town, with its authentic traditional houses characteristic of the Italian Alps. It has recently been enhanced, with the closure to traffic, the restoration of the walls and medieval palaces (such as the Palazzo Pretorio).
Domodossola is also visited for its many shops and its Saturday market, being moreover easily accessible thanks to its international railway station, on a line opened at the beginning of the 20th century with the digging of the Simplon tunnel towards Switzerland.
Around it, one can discover remarkable religious buildings: the church of San Quirico in the Calice district, San Brizio in the Vagna district, or the parish church of Saints Peter and Paul in Crevoladossola, 5 km north of Domodossola.

Recommended hotels and accommodation

Sacred Mount of Calvary

Sacred Mount of Calvary

Near the town center of Domodossola, the Sacred Mount of Calvary (Sacro Monte Calvario in Italian), is inscribed by Unesco as a world heritage site along with the other sacred mounts of Piedmont.
It was built on a rocky promontory of the Mattarella Pass from the middle of the 17th century on the initiative of two Capuchin friars, dedicated to the Passion of Christ. The Sanctuary of the Holy Crucifix was consecrated in 1690, then 12 chapel stations were erected outside, in addition to the 3 located inside the Sanctuary.
On the mount one can also discover rock carvings, early Christian remains, and the vestiges of the old Mattarella castle.

Sites of Val d’Ossola

Val Grande Natural Park

Val Grande Natural Park, one of the largest nature reserves in Europe, whose trails can be frequented depending on snow cover from May to October.

Going down the valley south of Domodossola:

• Vogogna preserves a few medieval buildings and the remains of its 14th-century fortress built by the Visconti of Milan, especially with the semicircular tower, dominating the village by only a few meters.

  

  Château fort de Vogogna

  

  Château fort de Vogogna

  

  Vogogna

  
  

• Lake Mergozzo, with its small town, and to the north the megalithic site of Ca’ d’la Norma
  

  

  Mergozzo et son lac

  

  
  

   

Val Vigezzo

The Val Vigezzo, which extends east of Domodossola toward Locarno, is also called the “valley of painters” with its authentic villages of stone houses.

• Sanctuary of the Madona del Sangue (15th century)
  

• Mallione Bridge, waterfalls, etc.

• Vigezzina line train, linking Domodossola to Locarno

Antigorio and Formazza valleys

Landlocked territory heading north from Domodossola toward Switzerland.

• Antigorio Valley, with its curious Uriezzo Gorges, carved by an ancient glacier.

• Formazza Valley, with the superb San Gaudenzio church in Baceno, and to the far north the cToce waterfall, which drops 145 meters in height.
  

Veglie and Devero Alps

Northwest of Domodossola, a border area with a natural park, renowned for its dozens of cheeses and salamis.

Bognanco Valley and Antrona Valley

• The Bognanco Valley is a pretty valley west of Domodossola
• The Antrona Valley, with its beautiful natural park, just to the south toward Mont Rose

Mont Rose and surroundings

• Macugnana, village on the eastern slope of Mont Rosa

Gallery

Information

• Wikipedia articles: Domodossola, Val d’Ossola
• Tourism portals: www.lelacmajeur.com, www.visitossola.it, www.visit-lakemaggiore.com

Map