the Sacro Monte Calvario) of Domodossola is one of the many sacred mountains that line the Alpine arc (since 2003 they have been World Heritage Sites united in the site “Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy,” of which Domodossola’s is a part): these are places of pilgrimage organized into several chapels that re-enact the Passion of Christ The one in Domodossola was founded in 1656 by the Capuchins Gioacchino da Cassano and Andrea da Rho who chose the Mattarella hill for their project approved by the Diocese of Novara: the foundation stone was laid in 1657 and the complex was finally consecrated in 1690 by the Bishop of Novara The Sacred Mount of Domodossola consists of the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Crucifix inside which is placed Dionigi Bussola’s 1662 Crucifix and twelve chapels also ornamented largely by Bussola a Baroque artist who poured into the Sacred Mount of the Ossola Valley what he had learned in Rome while studying the works of Bernini Among the artists who participated in the undertaking were sculptors Giuseppe Rusnati Giovanni Antonio Torricelli and his brother Giuseppe Antonio Maria Torricelli Reachable from the Ossola highway (which starts from Gravellona Toce and goes all the way to Simplon), the Val Grande National Park lies between Lake Maggiore and the Cannobina Valley and protects one of the most impervious and wildest areas in all of Europe A true oasis of “wilderness,” as it is called in technical jargon: by this term is meant a vast The Val Grande has always been sparsely populated: the first to venture into its mountains were some shepherds around the 10th century but it has always been sparsely frequented suitable for those who really want to immerse themselves in nature: there are no permanent or seasonal settlements in these parts (the only exception is the village of Cicogna) except for the few bivouacs set up by the park’s managing body The park also stands out for the richness of its vegetation (broadleaf forests prevail while at higher altitudes it is possible to walk on alpine grasslands) and the variety of its fauna: birds such as the golden eagle An unforgettable experience for nature lovers Vogogna is the best-preserved medieval village in the Ossola Valley: its ancient history sees it rivaling Domodossola capital of the Upper Ossola (Vogogna was instead the main center of the Lower Ossola) and then becoming an economically significant village under Visconti rule It was precisely a Visconti who had the town’s main monument built: it was in 1348 when Giovanni Visconti ordered the building of the Visconti Castle which dominates the town from above and was in ancient times part of the line of fortifications that were to protect the Duchy of Milan from Switzerland Vogogna’s ancient strategic importance is also certified by the ruins of the Rocca another defensive structure that stood just above the Castle and which compared to the latter is even older (dating from the 9th-10th centuries) also built starting in 1348 at the behest of Giovanni Visconti stands out: the palace houses the “Celtic mask,” an enigmatic soapstone of Celtic origin depicting a human face which has become a sort of symbol of Vogogna But it is safe to say that the whole village is a continuous discovery Not far from Lake Maggiore is Lake Mergozzo a splendid natural oasis at the foot of the Lepontine Alps and one of the cleanest water lakes in Europe On its shores lies the picturesque village of Mergozzo characterized by its colorful houses and lakeside square where fishermen pull their boats ashore but also for art: one of Piedmont’s main Romanesque monuments first mentioned in the year 885 but in its present appearance dating from the 11th century Lake Mergozzo can also be chosen as a base for an excursion to Val Grande Those who love tranquility but also the outdoors only have to try this place It is one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Piedmont as well as the most majestic in the Ossola Valley The church of San Bartolomeo in Villadossola probably dates back to the end of the 10th century: the tall bell tower which is much slimmer than the church (it reaches 34 meters in height) dates back to the beginning of the 11th century on which the Comacine masters presumably worked as a church dedicated to Saints Fabius and Sebastian (only in the 14th century did the dedication change in favor of St Initially with a single nave and circular apse houses above the portal a strange lunette engraved with a cross and bizarre motifs that look more like the work of a street artist looking up to Keith Haring than a medieval engraver The sober interior houses a 1596 wooden altarpiece by Andrea Merzagora the Sanctuary of the Madonna of the Miracles in Ornavasso better known as the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Boden after getting lost at night in the woods around Ornavasso invoked the Virgin Mary to bring her home safely The Virgin intervened and invested little Maria with an aura of light Some local women reportedly saw her surrounded by light and the villagers decided to erect a shrine to Our Lady on the site where a small chapel The current appearance of the building is that resulting from renovations undertaken first in 1763 when the church was enlarged to accommodate the increase in pilgrims when it was converted into a three-aisled building It is one of the main sites of popular devotion in the Ossola Valley Those who don’t want to give up their passion for cycling even on vacation will have plenty to enjoy in the Ossola Valley: the Toce Cycle Route is a network of bike paths that run throughout the Ossola Valley The Val d’Ossola tourist board offers four routes: “biking between the rivers,” 18 kilometers around Domodossola a marked route that describes a loop around the city Croppo di Trontano and Ponte della Mizzoccola the passages along the river through bike paths dirt tracks (the route is therefore reserved for bicycles that can run on this type of terrain) and a few sections along ordinary roads The second is “biking among the villages,” a 25.8-kilometer route (8.8 of which are on bike paths and 6.9 on dirt roads) that runs from Domodossola to Vogogna via the villages of Villadossola “In bici tra i boschi,” 19.2 km in length starts from the center of Vogogna and runs through woods and meadows two-thirds of it on trails reserved for bikes “Cycling among the flowers,” starts from Ornavasso and arrives at the Fondotoce Special Nature Reserve crossing the flower production areas of Lake Maggiore: with its 15 km and 20 meters of elevation gain which you can contact if you are interested in discovering this fascinating place There are seven side valleys in the Ossola Valley: the Antrona Valley, the Anzasca Valley, the Bognanco Valley, the Divedro Valley, the Isorno Valley, the Vigezzo Valley and the Antigorio Valley (of which the Formazza Valley is also a part Each of them has excellent reasons to visit Natural parks and the medieval atmospheres of Borgomezzavalle in the Antrona Valley (located here it remains completely in the dark because of the mountain above it and consequently to receive light it became necessary to install in 2006 a large mirror that reflects the sun’s rays on the village); the beauty of Macugnaga the fascinating history of gold mining and high-altitude hiking in the Anzasca Valley; relaxation in the Bognanco spa and the energy of ski mountaineering in the Bognanco Valley; the Alpe Veglia and Alpe Devero Park and the stone villages of the Divedro Valley; the lakes and peaks of the Isorno Valley; the epic of the chimney sweeps and the wonderful ancient villages of the Vigezzo Valley; and the unspoiled nature and Walser culture of the Formazza Valley All can be reached in a short time from Domodossola Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The Chorus Urbanus will be on a choral engagement in Sicily from tomorrow until Thursday as the guests of Corale Polifonica Jonia who are celebrating their 50th anniversary the choir will be performing during a concert at the Teatro Rex in Giarre Chorus Urbanus will be singing four-part adaptations of Maltese folk tunes arranged by the choir’s director John Galea The Corale Polifonia Jonia and Chorus Urbanus will join forces to perform the Agnus Dei from the Missa Ignes Charitatis composed and conducted by Mro Galea at the Giarre cathedral on Tuesday the choir will perform the Missa in Fractione Panis during Mass at Giarre cathedral the Blossomed Voice from Villadossola and the Corale Jonia Junior from Giarre will also take part the choir will sing during Mass to be celebrated by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech at the sanctuary of the Madonna delle Lacrime in Syracuse At the sanctuary there are art works by ex-Chorus Urbanus member artist Austin Camilleri Chorus Urbanus Productions has published a souvenir booklet for the occasion It will be distributed during the various activities please register for free or log in to your account.