Hike along the ancient mule track in Valle Olocchia

The itinerary develops along the ancient mule track of Valle Olocchia among woods and small towns with wood and stone lodges. This itinerary used to represent, in the past, an important connection between Valle Anzasca and Valsesia, throughout Colle di Baranca.

Following this itinerary, the hamlets of Parcineto, Gaggetto, Riscillone, Piana, Soi Di Fuori, Soi Di Mezzo and Soi Di Dentro are crossed, among large plains that show a panorama characterized by wide pine and chestnut woods. It was along these trails that a stage of Reverend Samuel William King’s journey was set. In 1855 he covered an itinerary across Val d’Aosta and Ossola, as told in his book “The Italian Valleys of the Pennine Alps”.

On that Saturday, september 29th 1855, Reverend King leaves Carcoforo, climbs up to Col d’Egua and, crossing the whole Valle Olocchia (along part of this itinerary), reaches the lodging “Ponte Grande”. In the pages he dedicated to this day, the Reverend tells that it was dark when they reached Bannio and found plenty of people in its square. “Lanterns and cressets and pans of blazing charcoal were raised on poles stuck in the ground among evergreen arches and festoons of flowers and ranged along the roofs of the houses and church. Every window was illuminated, the crowd carried torches, fireworks blazed and exploded in all directions, rockets whizzed into the air.” “ We found it was all in honour of the Bishop of Novara”, who, while on a pastoral visit, reach the small capitol of Valle Anzasca with great struggle!

go to the map

ITINERARIUM
shop

With your purchase you support ITINERARIUM's project, which will keep telling about our territory, its beauties, its history and its curiosities, always keeping all of the information free for everyone!

Illustrations

Pins

Women
of Ossola