Vigezzo Valley

The Vigezzo Valley is a broad valley that stretches towards the Swiss border, passing through seven municipalities. The valley also provides a gateway to Val Grande National Park, the largest wilderness area in Italy.

Also known as the “Valley of Painters”, it has been home to numerous artists and has inspired many landscape and portrait painters.

The highlight of this combination of art and culture is the Sanctuary of Re, an imposing Gothic-Byzantine building dedicated to the Madonna del Sangue (Madonna of the Blood), associated with a miracle that took place in 1494.

Formerly the main town of the valley, Santa Maria Maggiore is now an important tourist centre and home to the “Rossetti Valentini” School of Fine Arts and the Chimney Sweep Museum, which bears witness to one of the occupations most commonly practised by local emigrants for centuries. This tradition is celebrated every September with the International Chimney Sweep Gathering.

The entire valley is crossed by the historic Vigezzina Centovalli Railway, the characteristic blue train that travels 52 kilometres through spectacular scenery, crossing 83 bridges and passing through 31 tunnels, and connecting Domodossola with Locarno in Switzerland.

Tickets can be purchased online.