| Formazza | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms  | ||
| State | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Piedmont | |
| Territory | Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola | |
| Altitude | 1,280 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 130.65 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 438 (2017) | |
| Name inhabitants | formazzini | |
| Prefix tel | 39 0324 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 28863 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | St. Bernard | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Formazza is a country of Piedmont, in province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.
To know
Geographical notes
It is located at the northern end of Piedmont, on the border with Switzerland, completely immersed in a verdant high mountain valley. Near the town rises the Toce river which, with a jump of 150 m, creates a splendid waterfall, considered the most spectacular of the Alps. A little further on the river peacefully continues its course along the Antigorio Valley until you reach Domodossola, center of the Ossola Valley.
When to go
Formazza is suitable for tourism in every season: in summer the range of excursions ranges from those for families to demanding climbs, in winter you can take advantage of the extensive ski facilities.
Background
The first settlement was built around the twelfth century by a population from theUpper Valais: the Walser, a population of Germanic origin who began to overcome the Alpine passes to reach the fertile and sunny Ossola valleys, developing pastoralism and agriculture. They began to characterize architecture and language with specific elements of their culture, a High German still firm today in medieval semantics.
In the 15th century the Formazzini managed to free themselves from the feudal dominion of the de Rodis family of Baceno, and from 1486 the municipality was allowed to autonomously manage the organization of the community and the activities related to mountain pastures and woods. These millenary laws and traditions were collected in Thalbuch (book of the valley) which also recognized legal autonomy, independent from the central one, with an autonomous court.
How to orient yourself
Formazza: full screen map.Fractions
Formazza is a scattered municipality, that is, made up of several villages. The main ones are:
- 1 Bridge (Zumschtäg). It is the heart of the valley and is the seat of the municipality. Here you will find many hotels, shops and restaurants.
- 2 Riale (Kehrbäch). Located beyond the Toce waterfall, it is a small village that is still unspoiled from which you can leave for various excursions. The whole plain where the hamlet is located in winter is dedicated to cross-country skiing
- 3 Church (An där Mattu). Fraction built around the parish church, built in 1398 to prevent the population from going down to Antigorio Valley to attend religious services.
- 4 Valley floor (Stafelwald). Characteristic village once built entirely of wood, razed to the ground in an avalanche in 1863, later rebuilt in stone.
How to get
By plane
The nearest airport is Milan Malpensa.
By car
- A26 motorway: from Genoa direction Gravellona Toce. Crodo exit.
- A8 motorway: from Milan direction Varese. Gallarate-Gattico branch, entrance to A26. Crodo exit.
- Strada Statale 33 del Sempione: from Brig direction of the state border of Iselle. Crodo exit.
From Crodo begins a road that runs through the whole Antigorio Valley and reaches the Val Formazza in thirty minutes.
By bus
From the station of Domodossola a bus service is available that reaches Formazza (timetables on the website of Comazzibus).
How to get around
What see
- 1 Toce waterfall (of the Frua).
from 10 June to 15 September: weekdays: 11.30 - 13.30; Sundays 10.00 - 16.00 (details and exceptions on the tourism website). Described as "the most beautiful, the most powerful of the Alps waterfalls", it has a drop of water of about 150 m and flows into the valley below. It is possible to admire it from the base or from the top, on a wooden walkway extending over the waterfall. Being connected to the hydroelectric basin of Lake Morasco it is possible to see it in all its majesty only at certain times, for the remaining period it has a reduced water flow to be able to operate the plant. - 2 "The strong house" museum (Steinhause), ☎ 39 0324 63059. Tuesday and Saturday from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm in July and August. It got this name due to the fact that, at the time, it was the only building entirely made of stone and for this reason it was used as a prison or warehouse. Now it is an ethnographic museum that collects objects and testimonies of the life of the populations of this valley.
- 3 Parish church of San Bernardo in Menton, Church fraction. Located in a central position in the valley, it was built in 1398 to prevent the population from descending to Antigorio Valley to attend religious services. Valuable interior with numerous frescoes.
from 10 June to 15 September: weekdays: 11.30 - 13.30; Sundays 10.00 - 16.00 (details and exceptions on the tourism website). Described as "the most beautiful, the most powerful of the Alps waterfalls", it has a drop of water of about 150 m and flows into the valley below. It is possible to admire it from the base or from the top, on a wooden walkway extending over the waterfall. Being connected to the hydroelectric basin of Lake Morasco it is possible to see it in all its majesty only at certain times, for the remaining period it has a reduced water flow to be able to operate the plant.
- 4 Morasco Lake. Large artificial lake barred by a dam. It is a great starting point for challenging hikes, but you can just follow the easy walk around the lake.
Events and parties
- Potato Festival. Last weekeend of September. Gastronomic festival to rediscover a simple but typical agricultural product of the valley.
- Christmas markets. Weekend of the Immaculate Conception.
What to do
- 1 San Michele cross-country skiing circuit. Cross-country loop of 12 km that winds along the whole valley
- 2 Riale cross-country skiing circuit. Ring that winds through the Riale plain with 3 different levels of difficulty, from easy to competitive.
- 3 Alpine skiing, Ski lift near Valdo.
- Summer excursions. Up this site a wide range of excursions is collected starting from Val Formazza.
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Average prices
- Toce waterfall restaurant, ☎ 39 0324 634130. Historic restaurant located on a spectacular cliff overlooking the waterfall.
- The Genzianella, Valdo hamlet, 8, ☎ 39 0324 066009.
- Walser Schtuba, Riale, ☎ 39 0324 634352.
Where stay
Moderate prices
- 1 Maria Luisa Refuge, Lake of the Toggia.
- 2 City of Busto Refuge, Pian dei Camosci.
- 3 CAI refuge in the city of Somma Lombardo, Lake of the Sabbioni.
Average prices
- Edelweiss Hotel Restaurant, SS659, 81, ☎ 39 0324 63033.
- Rotenthal hotel, Fraction Ponte, 91, ☎ 39 351 873 1913.
- Aalts Dorf, Riale, ☎ 39 329 125 7417.
Safety
How to keep in touch
- Italian post, Fraction Ponte, 2.
