Valstrona: Walser History and Mountain Trails

Valstrona can be explored through two specific interests: Walser history around Campello Monti, and trails leading to high-altitude lakes and across mountain passes. Sacred art, a natural history museum, and the region’s craft traditions complete the picture. When planning your visit, you can treat cultural sites and hikes as separate areas of focus.

Campello Monti and its trails

Campello Monti is inhabited only from May to October. You can reach the village by car from Omegna; from Forno, the old Stra Vegia trail leads to Campello Monti on foot. If you are driving, check road conditions before setting out. The Walser village is also a starting point for trails to different destinations: one leads to Pissa dei Danai, while another route goes to Lago Capezzone and Cima Capezzone.

The trail from Campello Monti to Pissa dei Danai passes through the hamlet of Ronco and the Preasore area before reaching Pissa. The Preasore are four small, stone-built natural refrigerators that have been used since the early 19th century. The trail has been restored and marked with signposts. Check the trail markers and current trail conditions before setting out.

The Campello Monti–Lago Capezzone–Cima Capezzone route starts on trail Z17 by the Walser village church. After Alpe di Capezzone at 1,850 metres, it leads to Lago di Capezzone at 2,100 metres and to Bivacco Abele Traglio. Approximate planning figures are seven hours in total and 1,150 metres of elevation gain; the route is rated E, with sections rated EE. Use these details together to factor the time, elevation gain, and difficulty rating into your hike planning.

Another connection runs from Campello Monti over Bocchetta di Campello to Rimella. The route is a stage of the Gran Traversata delle Alpi (GTA) and part of the Walserweg, the Sentiero Italia, and the Via Alpina. The protected area of Parco Naturale Alta Valsesia e dell'Alta Val Strona includes the GTA section between Rimella and Campello Monti. In summer, a visit to the herders of the Azienda Agricola Calzino farm is recommended along the route. They make cow’s milk cheese and sell it on site. As visits are seasonal, check in advance whether a visit is possible.

Walser history, art, and crafts

The former parish church of San Giovanni Battista was built in 1749 in the late Baroque style. It preserves a large painting of Saint Francis attributed to Guercino. The Santuario della Madonna della Colletta houses two wood-carved icons from the 16th century, attributed to the German school. They depict the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi.

The Centro museale naturalistico di Valle Strona Mario Bertolani explores the geological history of Valle Strona and the local rock known as Stronalit. In Forno, the Museum of Sacred Art offers a different perspective on regional history: it preserves liturgical vestments and vessels from the churches and oratories of the upper Valle Strona and displays 500 works from the 15th century and later. Natural history and sacred collections thus offer two distinct themes to explore during your visit.

Crafts also contribute to the region’s character: more than a hundred family-run craft businesses operate in Valle Strona, most of them working with wood. The number of businesses may change over time. Since 1993, the Walser community Kampel has promoted cultural and scientific initiatives to support the development of Campello Monti in Valle Strona and raise its profile. Its annual conference, “Campello and the Walser,” takes place on the first Saturday in August; if you plan a trip for the event, check the date of that year’s edition.

Luzzogno holds a traditional celebration on September 8 every three years. A long gallery of white cloths is set up for the procession to pass beneath. If you want to plan your trip around the celebration, check the exact date of the next edition.

Discover more destinations: Verbania, Cicogna, Malesco, Gignese, San Domenico, Stresa, Trasquera, San Bernardino Verbano

For the broader travel overview: Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.