Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Torrente Cannobio forces its way powerfully through a narrow gorge known as the
Orrido di Sant'Anna
,
crossed at its narrowest part by a cute Romanesque bridge. If you've started the journey just before lunch, con-
sider pausing for a meal at
Grotto Sant'Anna
, a Ticino-style grotto that overlooks the thundering gorge. About
7km further up the valley, a steep 3km side road consisting of hairpin bends leads up to the central valley's main
town,
Falmenta
(666m - they say the town's priest would like to have 1m added to or subtracted from the
official figure). It's pleasant to wander around and worth a lunch stop at Circolo Falmenta. At the top of the val-
ley in
Malesco
, turn left (west) towards Domodossola. If you haven't eaten by the time you arrive, take the
33km round trip detour to the village of
Crodo
which hides
Ristorante Marconi
in a simple but welcoming
stone house, where you'll be regaled with fine food from the kitchen of chef Denis Croce.
Forsake the autostrada and follow the S33 past
Domodossola
to
Vogogna
where a 14th-century castle
keeps watch over the town. With the forested hillsides of the wilderness Parco Nazionale Val Grande visible away
to the north, continue east then southeast, following the signs for
Omegna
at the head of Lake Orta. From
here it's just 10.5km into charming
Orta San Giulio
.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Cannobio
POP 5225
Just 5km south of the Swiss border, Cannobio's toy-town, cobblestone streets are delight-
fully quaint. Nicely set apart from the busier towns to the north and south, it's a dreamy
place that makes for a charming lake base.
