This historic market town in northern Italy's Piedmont region has welcomed travelers since Roman times, with its medieval square and gateway to Swiss rail routes.
Domodossola, a town of 18,300 people in northern Italy's Piedmont region, sits at the meeting point of seven Alpine valleys. In the medieval center, you'll find merchants selling local cheese and bread under 15th-century stone porticoes in Piazza Mercato. You can climb the Sacro Monte Calvario's cobblestone path past baroque chapels, or take the scenic Centovalli Railway through mountain villages to Switzerland.
Walking Through the Medieval Center
Walk through Piazza Mercato's stone loggias and wooden balconies dating to the 15th and 16th centuries. Every Saturday since 917 AD, local vendors fill the square with market stalls selling regional products. Walk the surrounding streets to see the 14th-century Briona Tower, which rises 20 meters above the town. Inside the Renaissance-era Palazzo Silva, you'll find Etruscan pottery and Roman artifacts displayed behind marble-framed windows and doors.
Climbing the Sacred Mount of Calvary
Walk up Mattarella hill to reach the Sacro Monte Calvario, built in 1657 by Capuchin monks. Follow the one-kilometer cobblestone path connecting twelve baroque chapels that tell the story of Christ's Passion. At the summit, look out over the snow-capped Alps and the seven valleys that meet at Domodossola. Explore the ruins of medieval Mattarella Castle, where 12th-century defensive walls still stand.
Taking the Train Through the Alps
From Domodossola's station, catch trains to Milan through the Simplon Pass or take the Centovalli Railway to Locarno. The two-hour Centovalli journey crosses the "Hundred Valleys" on narrow-gauge tracks, passing stone villages and mountain streams. Listen to the audio guide explaining historical sites and natural landmarks along your route.
Tasting Local Mountain Food
Try the black rye bread baked in wood-fired ovens, sometimes containing raisins and walnuts. Local restaurants serve Ossola-style gnocchi made with potatoes from nearby farms and Bettelmatt cheese - produced by seven dairy farms at altitudes above 2,000 meters. Visit the Saturday market to buy directly from farmers and artisans who come down from the surrounding valleys.
Exploring the Seven Valleys
Take trains and buses from Domodossola to reach Lake Maggiore, Milan, or Swiss destinations like Zermatt and Interlaken. Hike the paths through the Ossola valleys and see the 143-meter Toce waterfall in Formazza Valley. Look for nineteen different types of stone - from white marble to gray gneiss - used in buildings and sculptures throughout the town.
