Val d'Ossola – Piedmont: valleys carved into the rock, mountain waters and a strong alpine identity. The Ossola Valley, in the north of Piedmont, extends from Lake Maggiore to the Swiss border and includes an articulated system of Alpine valleys: among these, the Bognanco Valley, the Divedro Valley, the Formazza Valley, the Vigezzo Valley and the Upper Anzasca Valley. A territory shaped by glaciers and streams, where the mountain is still lived and not just observed. 🏞️ Valleys and high-altitude environments: Ossola offers a mosaic of landscapes: rushing waterfalls, coniferous forests, glacial moraines, plateaus and suspended lakes. The high peaks, such as Monte Rosa, Pizzo Andolla and Corno di Nefelgiù, dominate the horizon with their grandeur. 👉 Tip: Visit the Toce Waterfall in Val Formazza: a natural spectacle of over 140 meters, one of the highest in Europe. 🚶 Alpine paths, refuges and paths: The entire area is crossed by a dense hiking network, with paths that connect refuges, alpine lakes, passes and side valleys. The Stockalper Trail and the Great Crossing of the Alps allow for profound walking experiences, immersed in nature and history. 👉 Tip: Reach the Zamboni-Zappa Refuge for an excursion in front of the east face of Monte Rosa, in the suggestive Macugnaga Basin. 🏘️ Stone villages and Walser architecture: Some villages in Ossola retain a unique architectural imprint: wooden and stone houses, stone roofs, stables and common ovens. The Walser culture, of Germanic origin, is still present in towns such as Formazza and Macugnaga, between customs, dialect and local rituals. 👉 Tip: Walk through Craveggia, in Val Vigezzo: an intact village with ancient frescoed mansions and votive chapels along the alleys. 🚂 Culture and connecting routes: Ossola is also crossed by the suggestive Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway, which connects Domodossola to Locarno with a panoramic route through woods, suspension bridges and high-altitude villages. The territory has always represented a passage between Italy and Switzerland, and retains a strong cross-border vocation. 👉 Tip: Hop aboard the panoramic train in autumn to admire the foliage that colors the valleys red and gold. 🥖 Local products and alpine traditions: The flavors of Ossola come from the mountains: aged cheeses such as Bettelmatt, rhododendron honey, rye bread and artisanal cured meats. The village festivals are authentic opportunities to taste traditional cuisine, made of simple ingredients and ancient techniques. 👉 Tip: Taste Polenta concia in an inn in Val Divedro, accompanied by alpine cheeses and local wine. The Ossola Valley is a set of stories carved into the mountains: each valley retains a distinct character, each village a living memory, each path an invitation to discovery.