Val Grande

Nestled between the mountains of Ossola, the Lake Maggiore basin and the Cannobina Valley, Val Grande has been inhabited by shepherds since at least the 13th century, before being gradually abandoned at the end of the Second World War.

From that moment onwards, the forest gradually reclaimed the area and, in the space of around 50 years, gave the valley such an inaccessible and wild appearance that it became one of the most interesting “wilderness” areas internationally and the largest in Italy.

Alongside its natural attractions, the area also boasts important historical and cultural heritage. Numerous sites preserve evidence of the area’s millennia-old human presence, including the military fortifications of the “Cadorna Line” and the Candoglia Quarries, located in the southern part of the valley, from which the marble used for Milan Cathedral is extracted.

Since 2013, Val Grande National Park has been part of the global network of UNESCO Global Geoparks and has obtained the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS).