Domodossola, an experience in the Alps

Domodossola - The real heart of the Ossola Valley is the famous village of Domodossola. It dominates a large basin in the mountains, along a route between Italy and Switzerland. Here there is evidence of settlements already in Roman times, where the town was mentioned as 'Oksela Lepontiorum', the capital center of the Leponzi. The city is characterized by an alpine climate, which makes a trip among these mountains even more immersive.

The historic center unravels from the arcades and the paving of the beautiful Piazza del Mercato; from here the road network that animates the town winds its way. Not far away we find the Silva palace. The building is in Renaissance style and has been refurbished as a museum center. Here remain the relics that reconstruct the environments of the place as if it were a seventeenth-century noble residence typical of the Ossola Valley. Palazzo San Francesco is another jewel, rebuilt on the wall plan of a previous church. Also worthy of mention is the Palazzo di Città, the current municipal seat and equipped with a historic room dedicated to the Resistance. The sacred architecture can boast of wonderful buildings such as the eighteenth-century church dedicated to Saints Gervasio and Protasio and the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Neve. In particular this place, built in the seventeenth century, can boast of the wonderful frescoes by the painter Carlo Mellerio. Last but not least, the Sacro Monte Calvario of Domodossola, thirty minutes from the city center. Located on the Mattarella hill, this site is included in the list of sacred alpine mountains, which are part of the UNESCO heritage. The numerous chapels of the complex are surrounded by alpine forests and host great examples of sacred art; an excursion here can truly turn into a dazzling and fascinating experience. For those who want to try the local workhorses in terms of palate and taste, we recommend a visit to the Chocolate Workshop (typical food and produced according to ancient traditional methods) and the local Balabiòtt brewery, where you can find a great variety of beers locals.