hike to a walser colony: salecchio

WARNING: trekking is not like walking! If you can't overcome a passage, go back!
Some of the tracks presented here are set along mountain trails where some passages may require holding to ropes or climbing short ladders, and may have exposed passages without safety protections. These tracts can be a serious danger if faced without the right equipment, awareness and physical condition.
ITINERARIUM® has no responsibility regarding the tracks presented here, their dangerousness, accessibility, praticability and safety. Who decides to take these tracks does it at their own risk.

LUNGO IL FIUME TOCE, SULLA SCALINATA VERSO L'ALPE VOVA, FINO ALLA COLONIA WALSER DI SALECCHIO

Val D'Ossola - Valle Antigorio

Download GPX track

Length:
11 Km

Our time:
4h00' walking

Total climb:
850 mt

Min and max height:
800 mt - 1548 mt

Type of track:
ring track

Surface:
stone steps - trail

Panorama:
mountains - Walser village

Cell network coverage:
partial

Traced in winter:
no

Traced by bike:
no

The village of Salecchio, Saley in Walser language, was made up by the two main residential areas of Salecchio Superiore (am obru Barg) and Salecchio Inferiore (ufem undru Barg) and by the small group of houses of Morando (Murant) and Case Francoli (Frankohus). This distribution reflects that of ancient German agricultural colonies. The village grows on a sunny terrace, right above Valle Antigorio, and from here an amazing panorama can be seen, towards Ossola plain and the mountain chain that hides Bosco Gurin behind itself, a Walser colony, the only one of German language in Ticino canton.
A manifestation of Walser folklore is the Candelora festival, animated every year in Salecchio. Once held on the 2nd of February, Candelora, already present in roman age, is celebrated with a procession with candles, symbolizing the passage from the dark of winter to the light of spring.
The village of Salecchio has remained mostly intact in time, showing today, still very recognizable, the typical characters of Walser architecture. The houses are made by a stone basement, about 2mts high, that was used as cellar, the upper part, made of wood, was the real home. The formwork was made of larch beams, wisely nestled with the block-bau technique. The outer stone ladder reached the entrance of the house where the kitchen was, completely covered in piode, and the Schtuba, that is the living room, the main room of the house. On the upper floors there were the bedrooms, that could be reached with a steep inner ladder.
The trail goes along the left side of Toce river (Tòs in Ossola language), reaches the village of Case Cini and Rivasco, then enters the wood and starts going up on a steep trail made of stone steps. It crosses the pastures of Forno alp, it reaches Vova alp and the small groups of houses of San Antonio, Cangei and Torp. From this point on the trails goes on towards Case Francoli, Saleccio Superiore and Salecchio Inferiore, eventually going down to Passo. The track, now, goes along some tracts of the still present ancient mule track, otherwise the dirt road can be taken, going through a short tunnel (a flashlight is recommended).