Vigezzo Valley

 In the “Painters' Valley” 

A scenic narrow-gauge railway – the “Vigezzina” – runs through the entire length of this broad valley, between Domodossola and Locarno

The Vigezzo Valley is popularly known as the “Painters' Valley”, due to the many landscape and portrait artists who found inspiration for their work here. 

Countless examples of its artistic vocation are to be seen throughout the valley, in museums, country houses or in its many churches and wayside shrines, which display works by local painters such as Borgnis, Cavalli and Fornara. 

An intriguing artistic feature is also the presence of 104 sundials painted on public buildings and private houses all over the valley. The broad sweep of this Alpine area invites open-air activity, and the numerous hiking trails are well signposted.

Skiers can choose between downhill runs, which total over 3,000 metres around the Piana di Vigezzo (1,736 mt a.s.l.), and cross-country, over a trail linking Druogno, Santa Maria Maggiore and Malesco. 

The Vigezzo Valley has a proud gastronomic tradition of plain, wholesome country cooking. Its robust flavour can be enjoyed best in the “violino di capra salato”, a cured leg of goat, or in the renowned raw Vigezzo ham, accompanied by the local “black” bread or the equally characteristic “crescenzin”, a round loaf baked with walnuts, grapes, figs and raisins.