Domodossola and surrounding area

The name Domodossola (Domus Oxulae), of medieval origin, means “in the centre of the valleys”, appropriately enough for a town standing where the seven valleys of the Ossola area come together. The medieval town centre has lost none of its picturesque appearance. The irregularly shaped Piazza Mercato, where the market has been held on Saturdays for centuries, still looks as it must have done a thousand years ago.

Popular festivals and echoes of the past abound throughout the year. As well as the historic centre, worth a visit are the 14th century Tower in via Briona and Palazzo Silva, a Renaissance building which is at the heart of the cultural life of the town, thanks to the many temporary exhibitions it hosts. On the Mattarella hill just outside Domodossola is the Sacro Monte Calvario, built in the mid 17th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to the fifteen devotional chapels of the Way of the Cross in the complex is a must.