Along Vigezzina - Centovalli

The train of the century-old Vigezzina – Centovalli railway connects Domodossola to Locarno in perfect harmony between sustainable mobility and a panoramic journey! This is how itineraries were born which, starting from a station, lead to the discovery of ancient villages, extraordinary landscapes, stories, local traditions and typical products.

The idea of ​​connecting north-western Italy with central Europe through the Vigezzo valley is not a modern idea: since 1745 what is now also known as the painters' valley was considered an important connection route, so that the Duke of Savoy issued the decree which imposed the passage of the Royal Mail to Germany through the Vigezzo. In 1857 a commission of Swiss engineers carried out the first surveys for the study of a railway line. It was then in 1898 with the formation of the Swiss Committee and the Vigezzino Committee that the actual project for this new railway line began. After long vicissitudes and lively discussions with the Italian government, the construction concession was obtained in 1911. This was supposed to last about 4 years, but the advent of the First World War stopped the work.

The Domodossola – Locarno line, after 24 long years, was officially inaugurated on 25 November 1923, with its 50 km, 15 Italian and 12 Swiss stations. To this day, more than 100 years after its inauguration, it is still crossed by its characteristic blue and white trains that pass through ancient villages and extraordinary natural landscapes.