| A stone landscape | |
 | |
| Itinerary type | Pedestrian |
|---|---|
| State |  Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Territory | Ossola Valley |
| Start | Malesco |
| end | Druogno |
| Length | 7 km |
A stone landscape it is an itinerary that takes place mainly along the cycle path that connects Malesco to Druogno in Val Vigezzo.
Introduction
This linear itinerary, with limited height difference, consists of a hillside route that allows you to admire the landscape of the Val Vigezzo, land of choice for the production of soapstone. The planned route winds mainly in the pine forest of Santa Maria Maggiore on an asphalted cycle path. As for the outward journey, the route is about 7.7 km long; you can return along the same route you did on the outward journey or by using the railway connection between the stations of Druogno is Malesco.
How to get
 | To learn more, see: How to get to Malesco. |
The itinerary can start from any point of Malesco. Here we describe the route starting from the square of the basilisk fountain.
Preparations
The route does not present particular difficulties and can be tackled on foot or by bicycle. In the second case you can use the bike sharing service that allows you to take the bike at the Malesco station and return it to the Druogno one (or vice versa).
Stages
A stone landscape: full screen map.- 1 Basilisk Fountain (start point Malesco)
- 2 Parish Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
- 3 Val Grande National Park Museum
- 4 Old Town Santa Maria Maggiore (deviation)
- 5 UniversiCà Museum (arrival point Druogno)
It starts from the church square where the basilisk fountain is located. On the square you can admire the parish church of the holy apostles Peter and Paul with a precious interior in neo-baroque style. On the back of the church is the building that contains the old wash house now used as an exhibition site.
You leave the church square following the main road keeping the religious building on the right, at the first intersection, turn left into via Trabucchi. About halfway along the street, on the right, through small pedestrian alleys, you reach the museum of the Val Grande National Park which is definitely worth a visit. Continue for another 200 meters and turn left into via Mellerio reaching piazza Sostine from which you take via dei Monti. After crossing a pedestrian bridge over a spectacular waterfall, you enter the pine forest which continues up to Santa Maria.
After about 2 km the cycle path passes through a children's play area, at which point you can turn right to visit the elegant historic center of Santa Maria Maggiore. Retracing your steps, continue on the cycle path up to Druogno.
Once in Druogno, in the east wing of the holiday home, you can visit the UniversiCà Museum, a multimedia museum that collects evidence of the traditions of the valley. You can go back to Malesco along the same street or with the Domodossola-Locarno line which has a stop near the museum.
