General features:
It is an easy ring route. The Baceno and Croveo area is famous for the numerous witchcraft trials that led to the stake mostly women and some men between the 16th and 17th centuries. The church of Baceno is a National Monument and is considered one of the most beautiful churches in the Alps. In Croveo the parish church has a beautiful bell tower built on a large landslide boulder. A curious statue overlooking the entrance to the Church recalls Don Ruscetta, parish priest of Croveo in the 1950s and 1960s, known as the "viper priest".
The route:
From the town hall square of Baceno go down to the sports field, cross the Devero stream and continue straight (path H00b) towards Uresso. From here continue to the bridge over the Devero stream and climb up to the ruins of the old inhabited area of Cuggine. Leaving the town on your right, start to climb steep steps up to the Baceno - Goglio provincial road at the Cappella Grande. Then follow the asphalted road and at the crossroads signposted for the Baulina bridge you can turn left to admire the beautiful stone bridge and the Marmitte dei Giganti. Going back on the carriage road, go up to the square of Croveo to visit the ancient wine press and the wash house. In front of the Trattoria Cistella a path (H00c) detaches itself and passing behind the parish church crosses the village and goes halfway up to the bridge of the Marmitte dei Giganti, a spectacular place, recently enhanced by the creation of the "Terrazza del Belvedere" from which you can enjoy an incomparable view of the waterfall. After crossing the bridge, take the Via Arbola (path H00) and take a section of mule track on the left with steps carved into the bare rock. The mule track continues along the coast, crosses the Rio Ghendola and descends to Graglia. Just before the oratory of Graglia, take the mule track on the right that descends steep steps until you will reach the bridge of the Baceno sports field again and from here the center of the village.
Area: Devero Valley
Notable Items along the Track
Parish Church of Baceno (national monument), Parish Church of Croveo, press of Croveo, Marmitte dei Giganti of Croveo
Accesso con mezzi pubblici
By train: Domodossola station, Ferrovie dello Stato. Timetable: http://www.trenitalia.com/; www.ffs.ch By bus: bus to Baceno, Domodossola - Cascata del Toce line. Timetable: www.vcoinbus.it By car: A26 highway towards Gravellona Toce, from here SS33 del Sempione, pass Domodossola, exit for Valle Formazza and shortly you will reach Baceno.
