Verbano-Cusio-Ossola between wilderness, alpine trails and Lake Maggiore

Natural landscapes between wilderness and high mountains

In the heart of the Provincia Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, the Parco Nazionale della Val Grande stretches across the region. The national park is part of the Sesia-Val Grande Geopark, is considered Italy’s largest wilderness area and is characterised by extensive forests and clear waters. If you would like to combine nature experiences and peaceful landscapes on your trip, this contrast with the region’s historic towns and lakes provides an important point of reference when choosing your accommodation.

One of the distinctive natural attractions is the Cascata del Toce in the hamlet of Frua, at an altitude of 1,675 metres. The waterfall has a 143-metre drop and is one of the highest waterfalls in Europe. You can view the Cascata del Toce from its base or from a wooden viewing bridge above the rocks.

Hiking trails for different levels of ability

The Parco Nazionale della Val Grande offers day hikes of varying lengths and difficulty levels. The Giro della Val Toggia provides a clearly defined sporting challenge: the moderately difficult high-altitude hike is 19.5 kilometres long, climbs 731 metres in elevation and takes a total of 5 hours and 50 minutes.

The Parco Naturale Alpe Veglia-Devero offers 86 square kilometres of alpine terrain at elevations between 1,600 and 3,500 metres. A route near Alpe Devero leads to the Codelago dam at 1,856 metres and continues to the turquoise Lago Devero in the nature park. The route in the Valle Formazza can be reached via the international railway station in Domodossola and the bus connection into the Valle Formazza to the Cascata del Toce.

Historic trails also shape the selection. The fourth stage of the Via del Gries begins in Riale, passes the Morasco dam and the Bettelmatt plateau, and climbs to the Gries Pass. A 10.928-kilometre-long historic road in the municipality of Formazza reaches the Swiss border and can be travelled on foot or by mountain bike. The Strada Cadorna is part of a defence system planned between 1899 and 1918, with trenches, small field hospitals, barracks, open gun emplacements, shelters and bunkers; its various sections can be explored on foot or by mountain bike. A historic route in the region is now a tourist trail and is one of Europe’s great alpine routes.

Walser culture, sacred sites and museums

In the Valle Formazza, Walser heritage can be seen in the houses of small hamlets, settlement structures, preserved traditions, craft products and typical local cuisine. In summer, Bettelmatt cheese is produced exclusively on seven alpine pastures in the municipalities of Baceno, Formazza and Premia, at elevations between 1,500 and 2,500 metres. For a winter trip, the Valle Formazza has more than 30 kilometres of cross-country ski trails, spread across the San Michele and Riale circuits.

The Sacro Monte di Domodossola was begun in 1656 to illustrate the Passion and death of Christ with life-size representations. The Sacro Monte Calvario di Domodossola is designated as a special reserve. The Sacro Monte di Ghiffa comprises three chapels dedicated to the Incoronata, John the Baptist and Abraham, as well as a sanctuary and an 18th-century arcade of the Stations of the Cross. It can be reached from Ronco via an old footpath in about 40 minutes.

In Ghiffa, the Museo dell'Arte del Cappello is housed in the premises of the former Panizza hat factory. It presents the factory’s industrial history through contemporary documents, pictures, tools and machines, and offers a workshop on making simple felt objects. The Centro Visita di Intragna houses an exhibition on life in the mountains, the landscape and local mountain culture.

The restored Castelli di Cannero now house an immersive museum that presents their history. Restoration by the Borromeo family took ten years and was completed in 2025. The Castello Visconteo in Vogogna contains areas dedicated to medieval archaeology and other thematic exhibitions. The Castello Visconteo can be reached on foot through Vogogna’s historic town centre and can also be visited inside.

Gardens and island culture on Lake Maggiore

The Giardini Botanici di Villa Taranto cover 16 hectares. They include 20,000 botanically significant plants, more than 80,000 flowering bulb plants and more than 15,000 bedding plants. The gardens have been open to the public from April to October since 1952.

Isola Bella has a Baroque Italian-style garden with terraces, statues, obelisks, fountains and views over Lake Maggiore. The palace comprises more than 20 rooms, including the Sala del Trono, the Sala delle Regine, the Sala di Napoleone and the Galleria Berthier. The English garden of Isola Madre covers eight hectares, is the largest of the Borromean Islands and is home to plants and flowers from distant regions of the world. Isola Madre also features an extensive historic puppet theatre collection with stage sets, puppets, complete scripts, scores and payment receipts.

Market and regional products in Domodossola

A market is held today in Piazza Mercato in Domodossola. The characteristic square features 15th-century arcades and is lined with distinguished houses from the 15th and 16th centuries. Products on offer include seasonal fruit and vegetables, cold cuts and cheese from Montecrestese, Malesco and the Valle Anzasca, as well as honey from the Ossola valleys, Valsesia and the hills around Novara.

Other places in Verbano-Cusio-Ossola

Traffiume, Fondotoce, Gurrone, Cresseglio, Miazzina, Oggebbio, San Bernardino Verbano, Stresa, Vignone, Gurro, Ghiffa, Someraro, Beé, Varzo, Baveno, Premeno, Mergozzo, Vogogna, Omegna, Macugnaga, Cursolo-Orasso, Formazza, San Domenico, Feriolo Di Baveno, Brovello-Carpugnino, Belgirate, Aurano, Piedilago, Pontegrande, Crevoladossola, Malesco, Antrogna, Viganella, Premia, Cavaglio-Spoccia, Cesara, Artò, Pollino, Madonna Del Sasso, Gravellona Toce, Casale Corte Cerro, Cambiasca, Bracchio, Scareno, Crodo, Bognanco, Domodossola, Gignese, Antrona Schieranco, Pallanza, Nonio, Cossogno, Mozzio, Agrano, Cadarese, Cicogna, Trasquera, Alpe Devero, Villadossola, Valstrona, Baceno, Premosello-Chiovenda, Trontano, Cannero Riviera, Verbania, Arizzano, Trarego Viggiona, Beura, Ceppo Morelli, Cissano, Passo, Craveggia, Santa Maria Maggiore, Druogno, Cannobio, Masera, Ornavasso, Barbè Superiore, Quarna Sopra, Intra, Re, Quarna Sotto, Carmine

For the main travel overview: Piedmont.