This content is also available in

The Via del Mercato is a hiking route that connects Domodossola with Locarno through the Vigezzo Valley and the Centovalli, along mule tracks used since ancient times to bring the products of the valleys to the city market. The same mule tracks were crossed by the many emigrants of the valley and by the pilgrims who went up to the Sanctuary of Re, an important devotional center in the valley dedicated to the Madonna del Sangue, a destination for pilgrimages from Domodossola, Locarno and Cossogno (in Verbano).

The Vigezzo Valley, differently from the other Ossola valleys, is a place where the orography rules are twisted. It is not a valley carved by the course of a stream with villages located at different altitudes from the head to the outlet of the plain. The Vigezzo valley seems to have no beginning or end: it is flat and not very incised and it has two opposing streams, one of which seems to flow uphill. Here not only is the orography unusual, but also the history and culture: it is a wealthy valley that thrives on tourism and the work of frontier workers, which has experienced an emigration that over the centuries has produced curious inventions and return well-being, but also the tradition of chimney sweeps and an artistic history linked to important painting schools. The restful environment and the polychrome of the broadleaved forests make the landscape very sweet to see. Yet Val Vigezzo is an alpine environment, an open place nestled between dark and wild valleys.

Over the past century the valley has undergone a profound transformation of the socio-economic system: the traditional agro-pastoral activity has undergone a strong reduction and had to carve out a small space as an integrative economy. There was no industrial development which is why the frontier work in nearby Switzerland and tourism are the primary resource of the economy of Vigezzo. This made it possible to avoid demographic decline which in other valleys negatively affected the social fabric and the structure of the territory. One of the best ways to get to know and appreciate the historical contents and the beauties of Val Vigezzo and the adjacent Centovalli is to retrace the ancient road that connected Domodossola with Locarno (CH), in use it seems since the Middle Ages by merchants and lumberjacks, herdsmen and emigrants between Ticino and Italy.

Today a part of the road has been lost, covered by the current road network, but some well-preserved stretches of the ancient mule track are present both in Italy and in Switzerland. Walking on this road is easy and pleasant, thanks also to the "VIGEZZINA" cross-border railway line, recently called "the most beautiful panoramic railway in Italy" that connects Domodossola with Locarno. Moving with the Vigezzina train it is possible to stay overnight in any village in the valley, reaching the starting point of the route in the morning.

 

THE LEGS OF THIS ROUTE:
Via del Mercato Leg 1: Masera - Santa Maria Maggiore
Via del Mercato Leg 2: Santa Maria Maggiore - Camedo (CH)
Via del Mercato Leg 3: Camedo (CH) - Intragna (CH)
Via del Mercato Leg 4: Intragna (CH) - Locarno (CH)

Accesso con mezzi pubblici

The Vigezzina-Centovalli railway is an international railway line which, with a panoramic journey of two hours, connects Italy to Switzerland, Domodossola to Locarno. All the places of departure and arrival can be reached by train with the Vigezzina-Centovalli railway line. www.vigezzina.com

link-utili-label

www.vigezzina.com

Itinerary Code: VME

Itinerary: 1

Difficulty Level: Hiking (E)

Track Length: 60.00 Km

Elapsed Track Traversal Time: 19h 00m

Arrival Address: Masera (VB) - IT

Departure Height: 300 m

Departure Address: Locarno - IT

Arrival Height: 200 m

fruizione: Hiking

nazione: Italy Switzerland

regione: Piedmont Canton Ticino

provincia: Verbania

classificazione: Provincial of medium and low mountain

Altitude Difference Going Up: 1720 m

Altitude Difference Going Down: 1860 m

Gpx File: Download
What is a GPX file?

© 2017 Ente di Gestione Aree Protette dell’Ossola | Privacy | Cookies  | Accessibilità | Credits

Questo sito utilizza cookie per migliorare la tua esperienza di navigazione ed il funzionamento del sito stesso.Per saperne di più: privacy policy.

  Io accetto i cookie di questo sito
EU Cookie Directive plugin by www.channeldigital.co.uk