Risultati di ricerca

Let’s talk about the history of the Witches of the Antigorio Valley An episode that is historically placed between 1575 and 1620, in the period in which the inquisitors of the Catholic Church ventured into these remote lands with one goal: to eradicate heresy and spread the Counter-Reformation, a movement born from the Council of Trent (1545-1563) to respond to the criticisms of Martin Luther posted to Wittenberg in 1517, sought to reform the Catholic Church and strengthen the faith in the most isolated regions. The church issued new directives that the people had to follow and the local clergy were entrusted with the task of spreading these teachings even in the most remote areas, such as the Antigorio valley. The spread of the new faith met with many resistances, especially due to the reticence of the local populations to change and the difficulty of understanding the liturgical functions in Latin. In this historical context, life in the Antigorio Life Valley flowed following ancient rhythms and beliefs. Local populations, often isolated due to climatic and morphological conditions, kept alive the cults linked above all to the land and nature. Ancestral practices that were often integrated into daily life without conflicting with Christianity, in a sort of peaceful coexistence. And here is inserted the figure of the midwife, which had a fundamental task, that is to help mothers at the time of childbirth. These women possessed in-depth knowledge of medicinal herbs and natural remedies, passed down from generation to generation. And people trusted them. The arrival of the inquisitors led to a conviction: their knowledge was at odds with religion and therefore became suspicious people. It was in this way that the arrival of two clerical figures, Fra Alberto and Fra Domenico, two young Dominicans sent to the valley in 1575, changed the course of history. The two friars began to investigate the herbal practices of local women, seeing traces of heresy in them. In practice, the witch hunt began. Especially between Domenico Buelli he was a prominent figure of the Inquisition. His cruelty and zeal in eradicating heresy led to the construction of new prisons and the continued persecution of the women of the valley. The investigations of the two inquisitors aroused fear among the population. An edict was posted on the door of the church of San Gaudenzio in Baceno, urging the population to report any suspicion of witchcraft. A climate of suspicion was created with the threat of excommunication for those who did not obey. In a short time, 20 women from Baceno, Crodo and Croveo were accused of witchcraft. Despite the suffering inflicted, many of the allegations were based on local superstitions and rivalries, as evidenced by subsequent cases of torture and forced confessions. Crushing evidence against them was collected by the inquisitors. At least according to their point of view. The accused women were transferred to Novara and were jailed pending trial. In a place of great suffering like the city prisons and, even more so those of the Holy Inquisition and the bishop, the women were subjected to atrocious torture to extort confessions. The women were tried and sentenced to severe penalties. Ten of them were placed under house arrest, seven were declared innocent and one was sentenced to remain in prison until death. Gaudenzia Fogletta di Rivasco and Giovanna, called the Fiora, Croveo were instead condemned to the stake. The Church, however, did not execute the sentence because she claimed not to shed blood directly. Condemnation that was instead carried out by the secular arm. The Inquisition brought terror to the Antigorius Valley until 1611, fueling unfounded accusations and personal rivalries. The climate of suspicion and fear established by the inquisitors left an indelible mark in the collective memory of the valley. Many women, unjustly accused, suffered torture and humiliation, while others were victims of personal vendettas disguised as religious zeal. Their stories, albeit painful, are part of the cultural heritage of this region and are remembered every year with a festival that takes place in July.

Trail classifications T - Tourist Itineraries on small roads, mule tracks or wide paths, with short, clearly visible routes that do not pose uncertainties or orientation problems. They usually take place below 2000 meters. They require a certain knowledge of the mountain environment and physical preparation for walking.   E - Hiking Itineraries that take place on all types of terrain, or on obvious traces of passage in varied terrain (pastures, debris, scree), usually with signs; there may be short flat or slightly inclined sections of residual snow where, in the event of a fall, the slide stops in a short space and without danger. They sometimes develop on open terrain, without paths but not problematic, always with adequate signs. They can take place on steep slopes, where however the exposed sections are generally protected or secured (cables). They may have single passages, or short sections on rock, not exposed, not tiring or demanding, thanks to the presence of equipment (ladders, rungs, cables) that do not require the use of specific equipment (harness, carabiners, etc.). They require a certain sense of direction, as well as a certain experience and knowledge of the Alpine environment, training in walking, as well as suitable footwear and equipment. They constitute the vast majority of hiking routes in the Italian mountains. EE - Expert Hikers These are itineraries that are generally marked but which imply an ability to move on particular terrains. Paths or tracks on impervious and treacherous terrain (steep and/or slippery slopes of grass, or mixed rocks and grass, or rocks and debris). Varied terrain, at relatively high altitudes (stone fields, short non-steep snowfields, open slopes without reference points, etc.). Rocky sections, with slight technical difficulties (equipped routes, via ferratas among those of lesser difficulty). However, routes on glaciers are excluded, even if flat and/or apparently without crevasses (because crossing them would require the use of a rope and ice axe, as well as knowledge of the related belay maneuvers. They require: general mountain experience and good knowledge of the Alpine environment; sure-footedness and no fear of heights; adequate equipment, gear and physical preparation. For equipped routes, it is also necessary to know how to use self-belay devices (carabiners, shock absorber, harness, cords). EEA - Expert Hikers, with Equipment This acronym is used for certain equipped routes or via ferratas, in order to warn the hiker that the itinerary requires the use of self-belay devices (harness, shock absorber, carabiners, cords) and personal protection equipment (helmet, gloves). EEA - F (Easy via ferrata) Equipped trail that is not very exposed and not very challenging with long stretches of walking. Route very protected, with good signs, where the metal structures are limited to the cable or chain fixed only to improve safety. EEA - PD (ferrata Not Very Difficult) Ferrata with a limited development and little exposure. The route is usually articulated with channels, chimneys and some short vertical sections, facilitated by fixtures such as chains, cables, rungs or even metal ladders. EEA - D (ferrata Difficult) Ferrata of a certain development that requires good physical preparation and good technique. The route is often vertical and in some cases also overcomes some short overhangs, very articulated, with long exposed sections; equipped with metal cables and/or chains, rungs and/or metal ladders. EAI - Hiking in Snowy Environments Itineraries in snowy environments that require the use of snowshoes, with clear and recognizable routes, with easy access routes, at the bottom of the valley or in non-impactful wooded areas or on open and little exposed ridges, with generally limited differences in altitude and difficulty that guarantee safe travel. MTB route classification TC - Tourist Route on paved and dirt roads with a compact and smooth surface, suitable for carriages. MC - for cycle excursionists with Medium Technical Capacity Route on dirt roads with a slightly bumpy or slightly irregular surface (tratturi, cart tracks, etc. easily passable by an off-road vehicle but not by a common car) marked by grooves and/or depressions or with the presence of debris that does not penalize progression (but which induces you to change your trajectory to look for an easier passage). Route on paved mule tracks or paths with a compact and smooth surface, without significant obstacles (ruts, steps), where the only difficulty in driving is given by the presence of obligatory passages that require precision in driving. BC - for cycle excursionists with Good Technical Ability Route on stvery uneven trails or on mule tracks and paths with a rather uneven but fairly smooth surface or compact but irregular, with a significant presence of elementary obstacles, roots or not too high steps; in general, in addition to good handling and precision in driving in obligatory passages, a fair amount of balance is also required. OC - for cycle excursionists with Excellent Technical Ability Route on mule tracks and paths with a very uneven and/or very irregular surface, with a significant presence of obstacles, even unstable, or of composite obstacles and in rapid succession, which require great precision in driving, good balance and excellent driving skills at low speed, without however the need to apply trial techniques. Source CAI (Italian Alpine Club) Swiss classification of trails (also adopted in our areas) T1 - Excursion Well-marked trail; if marked according to FSS standards: yellow. Flat or slightly inclined terrain, without the risk of exposed falls. Can also be walked with trainers, easy orientation, can also be walked without a topographic map. T2 - Mountain hike Path with clear route and regular climbs. If marked according to FSS standards: white-red-white. Sometimes steep terrain, risk of exposed falls not excluded. Sure-footedness is required, trekking boots recommended, basic orientation skills. T3 - Challenging mountain hike As a rule, visible trail on the ground, exposed passages can be secured with ropes or chains, if necessary, use of hands for balance. If marked according to FSS standards: white-red-white. Individual passages with risk of exposed falls, scree, grassy slopes without a trail with rocks. Sure-footedness, good trekking boots, reasonable orientation skills, basic knowledge of the Alpine environment are required. T4 - Alpine itinerary Path not always identifiable, itinerary in parts without a track, sometimes you have to use your hands to progress. If marked according to FSS standards: white-blue-white. Fairly exposed terrain, delicate grassy slopes, grassy slopes scattered with rocks, easy glaciers without snow. Familiarity with exposed terrain, sturdy trekking boots, good orientation and terrain assessment skills, knowledge of the Alpine environment are required. T5 - Challenging Alpine itinerary Often without a track, individual easy climbing passages up to grade II. If marked according to FSS standards: white-blue-white. Exposed and challenging terrain, steep grassy slopes scattered with rocks, glaciers and snowfields that are not very dangerous. Mountain boots, excellent orientation and safety skills in assessing the terrain, good knowledge of the Alpine environment and basic knowledge of using an ice axe and rope are required. T6 - Difficult Alpine route Generally without tracks, climbing passages up to grade II. Usually not marked. Often very exposed terrain, very delicate grassy and rocky slopes, glaciers with risk of sliding. Excellent orientation skills, excellent knowledge of the Alpine environment and familiarity with the use of technical mountaineering equipment are required. Classification of MTB routes in Switzerland S0 (Easy route): Trails on beaten earth or paved mule tracks, with a smooth surface and without significant obstacles, suitable for everyone. S1 (Intermediate route): Trails with small obstacles such as roots, rocks and steps, which can be tackled without particular technical difficulties. S2 (Medium difficulty route): Trails with more pronounced obstacles, such as larger roots, stones, steps in sequence, which require careful guidance. S3 (Technical Trail): Trails with many technical passages, consisting of blocks of rock and/or roots, which require greater skill. S4 and S5 (Very Technical Trails): Trails with very challenging obstacles, which require advanced skill and control. CAS Source (Swiss Alpine Club)

Rye is a cereal that plays a fundamental role in the Alpine culinary tradition, especially in the preparation of Alpine black bread. Its resistance to cold and its ability to grow on poor soils have made it a staple food for mountain communities. Although it is very popular in mountain areas, rye originated thousands of years ago in Asia Minor, but it did not have an easy life; in fact, it grew as a weed in the plantations of the most renowned corn and wheat crops and farmers periodically eliminated it because its size (about 2 meters high) suffocated the crops of other cereals, but its better resistance to atmospheric agents and cold seasons meant that farmers began to grow it in purity, discovering all its many properties. Rye is a cereal rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, useful for the health of the digestive system, blood sugar control and cardiovascular health. In particular, the fibers help regulate intestinal activity, while the low glycemic index makes it suitable for those who need to control their blood sugar levels. Rich in fiber: Rye, especially in its whole grain version, is an excellent source of fiber, which helps regulate intestinal activity, preventing constipation and helping reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as colon cancer. Low glycemic index: Rye has a lower glycemic index than wheat, which means that it releases sugars more gradually into the blood, avoiding glycemic spikes and promoting blood sugar control, useful for those who have diabetes or want to keep sugar levels stable. Rich in nutrients: Rye contains vitamins (especially B vitamins), minerals (such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium) and antioxidants, which contribute to the general well-being of the body. Good for the heart: Some studies suggest that rye may have a protective effect on blood vessels, helping to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Rye in the Alps: Staple food: Rye has historically been a fundamental food for mountain communities, especially for the production of bread. Resistant to cold: Rye is particularly suited to the climatic conditions of mountain areas, resisting cold and drought well. Culture and tradition: Rye is linked to an ancient Alpine culture and culinary tradition, with the black bread of the Alps as an emblematic example. Rediscovery and valorization: Recently, there has been a renewed interest in the cultivation and valorization of rye, with projects and initiatives for its rediscovery. Versatile use: Rye is not only a food, but is also used for the production of straw, for the construction of roofs and for the production of beer. Rye in the kitchen: Black bread: Rye is a key ingredient in Alpine black bread, a typical mountain bread, characterized by its dark color and strong flavor. Rye flour: Rye flour is used to prepare various baked goods, such as biscuits, breadsticks and schiacciatine. Healthy properties: Rye is rich in fiber, which helps improve digestion and regulate blood sugar levels. Examples of typical products: Alpine black bread: An ancient and traditional bread, made with rye flour and other cereals. Brazadela: A rye bread ring, typical of Valtellina, with a particular shape and consistency. Rye pasta: An example of using rye in the preparation of pasta, with rye flour for a stronger flavor.

The monumental Parish Church of Baceno, in Romanesque-Gothic style, is named after San Gaudenzio, the first Bishop of Novara (337-417). The oldest documents that testify to the existence of a chapel in the place where the church now stands date back to the early 11th century. Carlo Bascapè, Bishop of Novara from 1593 to 1615, in his “Sacred Novaria” cites a document attesting the existence in the Baceno of a chapel donated to the canons of Santa Maria di Novara by Gualberto of Pombia, Bishop of Novara from 1032 to 1039. The chapel, built with a rectangular plan in Lombard Romanesque style, was located where the presbytery is currently located. The first expansion of the building, datable between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, changed its orientation and gave shape to the portion now represented by the central nave and the Romanesque facade between the two pilasters. In 1326 the cleric Signebaldo de Baceno erected, at the point where the entrance to the primitive chapel, the Chapel of the Madonna, stood. The marked spread of Christianity in the Antigorius Valley later determined the need for a new expansion. On the occasion of the marriage, in 1486, of Bernardino de Baceno, the imperial Valvassore of Antigorio and Formazza, with the noblewoman Ludovica Trivulzio, daughter of the representative of the Duke of Milan in Ossola, the Church of San Gaudenzio was embellished with the construction of the current side naves, in Gothic style. In the last decade of the 16th century, with the new norms established by the Council of Trent, new interventions began within the Church of San Gaudenzio, whose structure was significantly modified with the insertion of clear baroque elements, which since then have been in harmony with Romanesque and Gothic. At the center of the Romanesque stone facade of the monumental Church of San Gaudenzio stands the portal, dominated by a rose window and flanked by the large fresco of San Cristoforo, painted in 1542. The imposing bell tower, with a square base and with a side of seven meters, is 31 meters high; the octagonal cusp was added in the seventeenth century. The large interior with five naves, divided by four sets of columns, is characterized by a marked slope floor (almost a meter the difference in height from the beginning of the nave at the base of the steps of the presbytery), composed of serizzo slabs. The side aisles are formed by ten beautifully frescoed cruises; in addition to the imposing ciborium of the main altar, they finally enrich the Church of San Gaudenzio seven side altars and the sixteenth-century Battistero in white marble and wood, with walls and frescoed vaults. The oldest and most valuable artistic portion of the building is the Chapel of the Madonna (now of the Rosary), located in the nave on the right of the altar, whose wonderful frescoes are dedicated to the life of Mary. In the presbytery, on the right, the great Crucifixion (1542), the work of Antonio Zanetti called the Bugnate, below the figures of Adam and Eve, while on the barrel vault is represented the dragon by the seven heads of the Apocalypse; the cruise of the presbytery is enclosed by three finely frescoed arches with prophets and hisbys. The magnificence of the Church of San Gaudenzio di Baceno, whose architectural structure, at sunset, is enhanced by a wise lighting, cannot fail to affect the eyes and hearts of visitors. Source: visitbaceno.it

Baceno, municipality of the Antigorio Valley, has an area of 6872 hectares and is located 655 meters above sea level. The history of Baceno has ancient roots: the name of the capital of the Antigorio Valley appears for the first time in a document of 918, but the discovery, in 1958, of a tomb dating back to the second century AD, testifies to its origins even further away. In the Middle Ages Baceno played an important role for the Alta Val d’Ossola, thanks to its strategic position at the confluence of three valleys, Devero Antigorio and Formazza. From 1200 there were alternating events, which initially saw the local families of De Rodis and De Baceno as protagonists. In 1215 the Emperor Otto IV invested the De Rodia family of the Antigorius Valley whose possessions were then succeeded to the De Bacenos. In 1381 the passage of Baceno and the whole Val d’Ossola took place under the domination of the Visconti, in 1450 the Sforza took over, while in 1595 the territory was given as a fief to the Borromeo. In 1647 Baceno and all the other centers of the Antigorius Valley were exempted from enfeudation. The antiquity of the place is attested by the discovery, in 1958, of a tomb that can be assigned to the second century AD. Baceno, whose name appears for the first time in a document of 918, in the Middle Ages follows the events of the upper Ossola and had considerable importance for its position at the confluence of three valleys. Artistic notes: On the way to Goglio, in the locality "al Passo", there is a barrier of Sforza valley (last decade of the century. XV) with tower to knight of the road. The parish church of Baceno, dedicated to S. Gaudenzio is a Romanesque - Gothic construction: begun in the twelfth century. it was enlarged to three naves in the fourteenth century and finally brought to five in the first half of the 500, when it was also flanked by a bell tower (1523). Built in square blocks of stone, the church has a gabled facade adorned with a median portal (1505), decorated with hanging arches and a rose window and preserves remarkable specimens of sixteenth-century art: Frescoes of A. Zanetti (1549), painted stained glass, a carved wooden encounter from the Swiss school. The parish of Croveo has a wooden door carved in the sec. XVII.

San Domenico is a hamlet of the Municipality of Varzo at an altitude of 1,420 m, in the northern extreme of Piedmont. More precisely, San Domenico belongs to a valley of the Lepontine Alps that weaves with a succession of ridges, woods and ponds on the border with Switzerland. In a nutshell: it is one of the last resorts of the entire Alpine arc where you can experience the mountain in all its natural beauty. Whether winter or summer, San Domenico di Varzo is an unspoilt place to discover on skis, with snowshoes, by bike or walking through woods, ridges and ponds. A small village in northern Piedmont where nature is the protagonist all year round. Whether your passion is alpine skiing or snowboarding, San Domenico Ski is really the ideal place for you. The Val Divedro area offers the perfect mix of slopes of different difficulty, large slopes in open spaces and adrenaline descents through the trees. The ski area is spread over a difference in height of more than 1,100 meters, from the 1,420 meters of San Domenico up to the 2,500 meters of the Dosso, crossing the axilate conca of the Alpe Ciamporino.Solioughly the opening of the San Domenico Ski lifts is guaranteed from the beginning of December to the beginning of May, thanks also to a natural snow of the highest quality, among the best of the entire Alpine arc. The easy and wide slopes of the Alpe Ciamporino await beginners to get closer to the winter sports and the treadmills of the school field ensure everyone can enjoy the first slips on the skis or on the table in peace. The most demanding and technical slopes of the Sella and Dosso Pass are dedicated to the most demanding skiers. Tracks such as “La Sella”, “Diei”, “Valletta” and the variants “Bondolero 1, 2 and 3” offer technical walls with slopes up to 55%, rapid changes of direction, compressions and decompressions able to test even the most advanced skier. Emotions at night can be experienced along the 3 km of track illuminated by day, the only downhill track by night in the entire Ski Area of the Val d’Ossola together with Domobianca Ski. Snowboarding in San Domenico has a long and established tradition: the snowy slopes, especially those softly whitewashed and unspoiled outside the beaten tracks, have been a destination for a large fleet of enthusiasts for decades. Also available is the Sando Snowpark, constantly updated with new equipment. Equipment rental, ski school, level hotels, residences, mountain huts and ski bars at high altitude, events, gastronomic evenings and après-ski complete the offer of great quality of San Domenico Ski. Go back here on the site to be informed about the opening of the ski resorts.

Domobianca is a ski resort between 1088 m a.s.l. and 1845 m a.s.l., representing the set of a group of mountain pastures located above the town of Domodossola. The road reaches only the lowest mountain pasture, the Alpe Lusentino, from here several chairlifts and ski lifts lead to the Pianali, the highest point of the ski resort, located at the foot of the summit of Moncucco. There are 13[1] tracks, a total of 21 km long. Skiing in Domobianca was born in the 70s, when we began to think about the establishment of the Domodossola ski resort. The area identified for the creation of the station was the one corresponding to the north-eastern slope of Moncucco (1896 m a.s.l.). The plants were supposed to start from the Alpe Lusentino, where the carriage road ended and should have reached the Pianali, a plateau immediately placed under the summit of Moncucco. This was how the works for the creation of the ski lifts started, the construction of which was commissioned to the company Leitner di Vipiteno. In 1978 the new ski resort was inaugurated, which at the time included the seats for Motti, Prel and the Pianali ski lifts. In 1980, always by the company Leitner was also built a sciovia Baby all'Alpe Foppiano, a place where the Motti chairlift arrived and from which the chairlift Prel was starting, which then led to the Pianali exit, which reached the homonymous locality at the foot of the summit of Moncucco. In the 1980s and 1990s the station recorded a good influx of skiers, but suffered competition from other ossola ski resorts and winters with little snowfall. In the third millennium, the winter resort of Domobianca-Alpe Lusentino aimed to make a decisive leap in quality, through the introduction of planned snow, essential to keep the tracks less open all winter, and new facilities. In 2004, in fact, a Leitner ski lift was repositioned at the Pianali, with the aim of allowing skiers a greater attendance of the best snowy area of the area. The real leap in quality, Domobianca, does so, however, in 2006, when taking advantage of the funding that the Piedmont Region grants thanks to the Turin 2006 Olympics, sees some welcome innovations that came into operation. The planned snow is expanded on almost all tracks and two new two-seater chairlifts are built. The two plants, both made by the CT & Sacif companies, are of considerable importance for the station. The chairlift Torcelli, took the place of the Pianali ski room, dismantled following the construction of this plant, while the Casalavera chairlift allowed an expansion of the area, on a side up to that moment little frequented. In 2007, the night ski system on the Prel and Prati slopes also went into operation. These innovations have led Domobianca to be one of the best and most popular resorts in the Neveazzurra area, which includes all the ski resorts of the VCO. Domobianca offers kilometers of perfectly prepared slopes for all levels, from the wide “baby” track, a beginner’s paradise, to the famous “muro torcelli”, a real challenge with an extreme slope! All served by 4 chairlifts, 2 ski lifts and 3 treadmills. Domobianca is also one of the two ossola stations, together with San Domenico Ski, to offer the opportunity to experience special evenings thanks to the night skiing experience, with 3 km of track illuminated by day: a by-night descent among the longest in Europe. Return to visit the site to be informed about the openings of the ski slopes.

Extreme northern offshoot of Piedmont, wedned between the Swiss cantons of Valais to the west and Ticino to the east, Val Formazza is a small alpine jewel of the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, north of Lake Maggiore. The valley, a natural continuation of the Antigorio Valley, which begins north of Domodossola, is wide and verdant, with a typical glacial profile, covered entirely by the Toce river, which in the terminal portion forms the famous waterfalls of the Toce, a jump of 143 meters. Along the valley floor and its side slopes, especially the western one, there are large spaces where in summer hikers and mountaineers can find a myriad of different possibilities, also facilitated by the numerous and welcoming refuges: from the simple walks between the different hamlets of the municipality of Formazza, to more challenging trekking at high altitudes between large mountains and alpine meadows, from equipped cliffs and convenient access, up to itineraries on the glaciers of the highest peaks. And in winter, when a white mantle covers everything – here the snow is always abundant –, in addition to the long cross-country rings and the small area for alpine skiing, you can walk with the snowshoes at the foot along itineraries of every length and difficulty, but it is perhaps the ski mountaineering that in Val Formazza gives the most intense emotions, with paths really suitable for everyone, for those who approach this discipline, as for the collections. One of the peculiarities of Val Formazza is certainly the Walser culture, which still permeates the lives of its inhabitants and the management of the territory, as well as toponymy and architecture. It is assumed that in ancient times the area was inhabited by the Leponzi, a population apparently of proto-Celtic origin, subdued later by the Romans, which left evident traces of roads in the valleys of the Arbola and the Gries, used for commercial exchanges with Switzerland. Subsequently, the area came under the control of the bishop of Novara and the Valvassori De Rodis, then of the Duchy of Milan, finally following the events of the whole Ossola (except for some Swiss raids), which see an alternation of dominations, more or less bloody, by Spaniards, Austrians, Piedmontese and French, up to the definitive annexation to the Kingdom of Italy. But all this influenced very little on daily life in the high mountains, where the Antigorio Valley, overcome the steep barrier of the Casse, becomes Val Formazza, Alpine territories then almost uninhabited and used only as summer pastures. Here, between 1200 and 1300, for reasons still debated by historians come some groups of settlers from the Goms, in the upper Swiss Valais, which crossing the Gries Pass settle – with the approval of the De Rodis first and then the Duchy of Milan, which obtain undoubted advantages in terms of tribute – in the highest portion of the valley, giving rise to small villages dedicated to cultivation and above all to the breeding. For centuries the Walser people (from Walliser, inhabitant of Valais) have lived almost undisturbed in these places, without coming into contact with the neighboring populations except for the commercial needs, thus maintaining a cultural autonomy that has been perpetrated from generation to generation. The Alps and woods were and still are governed with a community order, and even justice, within certain limits (the arbitration of the major crimes belonged to the lord), was managed by the community itself with its own court. The Walser culture is also clearly identifiable in construction and language. The Walser houses, many still visible in Val Formazza, are recognizable by the stone base, above which rests the main body completely in wood, a material that was almost not used for homes in the Alps. But it is perhaps the language that is the most distinctive feature of this ancient and proud people: the Walser dialect, a mixture of ancient German and subalpine dialects, can be found in many place names in the municipality of Formazza (which in the walser language becomes Pomatt), even if unfortunately now only some old people still know how to speak it. Here then the signs at the entrance of the different hamlets still show the double name: Foppiano/Unrumschtald, Fondovalle/Schtafuwald, Chiesa/In d?r Mattu, San Michele/Tuffald, Valdo/Wald, Ponte/Zum Scht?g, Brendo/In d?ndudu, Grovella/Gurf?lu, Canza/Fr?duwald. A culture, that of the Walser, which affects other territories of the Alps, from Valsesia to some areas of the Canton of Ticino, and which fortunately sees a renewed interest thanks to which we try to keep alive the traditions and language of this people of the Alps. Basodino, Punta d’Arbola, Punta del Sabbione, Blinnenhorn: these are just some of the Three thousand that surround the Val Formazza, at the feet of which wind through paths rich in history, as along the passes of the Gries or San Giacomo, and paths among eternal ice – even if in constant retreat –, mountaineers where the precious Bettelmatt cheese is produced, abandoned Walser villages and large artificial basins.. An experience to be lived at a slow pace, letting the eyes fill with the green of the meadows, the white ice and the snow, and the blue of the sky and the lakes.