It’s hardly surprising that the Vigezzina - Centovalli Railway passes over 83 marvellous bridges and viaducts along its route from Locarno to Domodossola. Before this panoramic route was built, the “hundred valleys” were still completely untouched. Whether in spring, passing thundering waterfalls, or during a golden Indian summer – a trip on the Vigezzina - Centovalli Railway is an experience in itself.
The Vigezzina - Centovalli Railway crosses borders – in a true sense as well as a figurative one. From Locarno in Switzerland to Domodossola in Italy. This is the most direct route between the Gotthard and Simplon railway lines. And from the shores of Lago Maggiore, the narrow-gauge railway passes through wild chestnut forests and vine-covered slopes.
On this route, covering a distance of around 50 kilometres, through the Centovalli and the Valle Vigezzo, there is so much to visit and admire. Numerous secluded side valleys open up along the Melezza river. Thickly forested and interspersed with rugged cliffs, they have formed over millions of years along the dividing line between the African and European continental plates.
The region is an ideal place for hikes and excursions of varying lengths with one of the many stops in Italy or Switzerland as their starting point. Intragna, the largest municipality in Centovalli, is particularly popular among hikers. From here, for example, hikers can reach the mountain village of Loco, which is situated in a parallel valley, via a historic mule track.
Facts
Route: Locarno – Domodossola (Italy) and vice versa
Distance: 52 km
Duration: 2 h
Excursion Tips
- Intragna – the largest municipality in Centovalli – impresses with its 80-metre-high railway viaduct and Ticino’s highest church tower.
- Domodossola – a charming old town with various churches and a lively Saturday market – is the perfect place to relax a while.
Foods and Beverages
No catering services.
Timetable
Tickets
Reservations
A seat reservation can be made online for a charge of CHF 5.
In the panorama trains, the route is subject to a supplement on the Italian stretch from Domodossola to Camedo. The supplement of EUR 1.50/CHF 1.50 is paid on board the train itself.
