Corippo: Village Church, Stone Houses and Hiking Trails

Corippo is located in the Verzasca Valley in the canton of Ticino and the Locarno district. The village combines a distinctive historic centre with religious buildings, terraces and trails into the surrounding landscape. When planning a stay, it is worth exploring both aspects: the information point introduces visitors to the settlement and natural landscape, while a detour on a circular walk opens up a sweeping panorama of the reservoir.

Church, Chapels and Village Square

The Church of Beata Vergine del Carmelo was consecrated in 1614. It contains a fragment of a Last Supper that was already mentioned in 1703. For many years, a large nativity scene has adorned the church during the Christmas season; it completely fills the chapel dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. If you would like to see the nativity scene, check the presentation dates in advance.

The Cappella della Crosetta, at Corippo’s main entrance, features the village’s richest architectural detailing and most extensive paintings. The figures depicted include a Pietà, Saint John the Baptist, another unidentified saint, Saint Peter with the keys, Saint Joseph and God the Father on the ceiling. The monumental village square is home to the church and nearby bell tower, the school, the rectory and the ossuary, which formerly housed the municipal offices. The coat of arms of Chaplain Albrizzi, dated 1672, is painted on the rectory.

The distinctive historic centre preserves simple stone houses with thick walls made of unworked stones, stone gabled roofs and, in some cases, religious frescoes or traces of them. The different architectural forms and artworks can be seen in the historic centre and at the religious buildings.

Walks and Events

The information point in the village piazzetta introduces visitors to the natural landscape and settlement, and is also the starting point for the ethnographic trail. It takes about 15 minutes to walk from the PostBus stop to the piazzetta. This is the time needed to reach the piazzetta, not the duration of the trail. An official sightseeing trail through the Verzasca Valley also includes Corippo’s historic centre.

The Oratorio dei Novei is dedicated to Madonna delle Grazie and is usually closed. In the days leading up to the patron saint’s feast, it is the destination of a pilgrimage; the feast is usually celebrated on the third Sunday in July. If you would like to include this tradition in your travel plans, check the date for the relevant year.

Terraces, Chestnuts and the Reservoir

The terraces made it possible to cultivate fields on a slope that would otherwise have been unsuitable for farming. About ten fruit trees have been planted on some restored terraces. Below the road is a restored chestnut grove: the undergrowth was cleared and the chestnut trees pruned. Corippo lies at an elevation of 416 to 2,065 metres above sea level.

Chestnuts once played a central role in Corippo’s diet. To preserve them, they were dried in structures known as Graa, with a fire kept burning for several weeks. This traditional practice adds another dimension to the terraces and the restored chestnut grove.

Numerous hiking trails start in Corippo, including routes for relatively easy excursions. Conditions can vary from trail to trail. A detour of about 30 minutes on the circular walk offers a sweeping panorama of the artificial reservoir. When the water level is very low, the former road through the Verzasca Valley and the remains of some lower-lying parts of Vogorno can be seen there. They were flooded in 1965 when the reservoir was filled.

Higher up is Corippo’s restored, operational mill. It is run for demonstration purposes on several days each year. Demonstration dates can vary; check in advance when the mill will be operating and whether a visit is possible.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

There are about 15 parking spaces in Corippo; access for motorhomes is prohibited. The recommended stop for getting there is “Bivio di Corippo”. Check practical travel information again before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Caviano, Magadino, Cavigliano, Minusio, Brissago, Ronco Sopra Ascona, Losone, Gresso

Back to the main travel overview: Locarno.