Valle Verzasca

The Valle Verzasca is a valley in the Locarno district of the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland. It comprises the municipalities of Mergoscia, Vogorno, Corippo, Lavertezzo, Brione, Gerra, Frasco, and Sonogno. As of 2004, the total population of 3,200. Mergoscia is at the geographical center of the Ticino, and none of the passes out of the valley cross cantonal or national borders. The valley is formed by the Verzasca River and is situated between the Leventina and the Maggia and culminates at Pizzo Barone.

View from the dam towards Mergoscia
View of Vogorno looking north
Rustici in Berzona/Vogorno
Corippo, Switzerland's smallest municipality

Geography

Located between the Leventina and the Valle Maggia valleys, Valle Verzasca extends over a length of 25 kilometres (16 mi) in north–south direction, and is situated in the north of the Lago Maggiore. The valley floor is at about 500 metres (1,640 ft) to 900 metres (2,953 ft)above sea level. The surrounding mountains respectively passes have an average altitude of 2,400 metres (7,874 ft). The Valley is crossed by the Verzasca river, it is dammed at the southernly outlet of the Valley, forming the Lago di Vogorno, before it flows in the Magadino plain in the vicinity of the Ticino River in the Lago Maggiore.

Climate

Due to the different altitudes, all climate zones are combined in the Valle Verzasca. Tenero-contra and Gordola include the insubric climate region thanks to the deep sea level, close to the Lago Maggiore and protected by the mountains from the north winds. Vineyards and Mediterranean vegetation benefit of the mildest climate of Switzerland, nebulae are rare and rainfall of short duration. With increasing altitude the hills and mountain climate goes over to regions dominated by the Alpine climate (over 2,000 metres (6,562 ft)).

Flora and fauna

The diversity benefits among other things, the cultivation of vines, and it flourish chestnut forests and palm trees thrive. Due to differences in soil type and the amount, almost all flora occurring in the Ticino and fauna of the various environmental zones are found in the Verzasca Valley.

By the Romans introduced and comparable to the tropical wood species, Castanea sativa is in the southern part of the valley, below 1,000 metres (3,281 ft), the dominant species. It is no longer actively cultivated, but favors the further diffusion, and studies suggest to take advantage of the valuable wood of chestnut as a valuable wood.

In the Valle Verzasca the endemic Nera Verzasca goat has been preserved, which looks very much like the ancient Roman goat. This medieval durable goat has short hair, because it's not stuck in the snow.

Culture

Due to its isolated location, the Verzasca Valley is claimed as one of the valleys that could best keep its originality. The secluded geographical location made it unattractive for conquerors since the Roman period, and even before. The first traces of settlement in the area are from the early 2nd millennium BC, in its southern part. In Berzona, a locality (frazione) of Vogorno, a carved rock known as a Sass di Striöi (literally: witches stone) is situated on a hiking trail. A shell rock most likely dating from around 600–700 BC; there are about 90 such carved rocks in the Verzasca Valley. Although initially free farmers, the valley was alternately ruled by the Swiss Confederacy, Savoy, Leventia and the Rusca family from about 1410 onwards. In the European Middle Ages, the population were mainly farmers, and since the early 17th century, many residents had to leave for seasonal labour outside their home valley. Often unemployed young men were recruited as mercenaries for foreign armies. In two quarries granite is mined by local workers.[1]

The so-called Rustici (Italian for farm house) in grey stone, with white borders on the windows and heavy stone roofs, are typical houses in the valley. Wood rafters are used to support the heavy stone roof, Castanea sativa wood. Many chapels along the way bear witness to the deep faith of the inhabitants of the valley. Valle Vercasza was the origin of many of the region's so-called Spazzacamini (literally: chimney sweep children).[2][3]

Tourism

With the connection to the public transport, tourism developed from the end of the 19th century, but still the majority of the young people of the Valley is looking for an income in wealthier regions of Switzerland or northern Italy. As of today, the majority of the locals is active in the tourism. The conversion of the old Rustici houses into holiday houses created jobs, increased tourism revenues and ensured that the old houses and the characteristic image of the Verzasca Valley are preserved.

The mountaintop with views of the Valais, Bernese, Glarus and Grisons Alps, as well as the many transitions in the side and neighbouring valleys are popular to mountain hikers, and around a dozen mountain huts provide accommodation and meals. The Verzasca River is popular to canoeists and divers, but considered to be dangerous and difficult. The Verzasca Dam is also well known for its 220 m height jump, which is one of the highest jumps in the world and also the most famous bungy jump, as it was used in the James Bond film GoldenEye.

Transportation

The only valley access for road traffic and the Postauto buses is bounded from Tenero or Gordola. The starting on the left side of the valley road (built from 1866 to 1871) crosses Vogorno, Corippo, Lavertezzo, Brione (Verzasca), Gerra (Verzasca), Frasco and ends in Sonogno; a short road leads to Corippo. On the right side of the valley, the road and post road trips from Locarno ends in Mergoscia.

Passes
nameelev. (m)coordinatesfromto
left
Ruscada, Passo di2069715.040/121.010Vogorno > Cap.BorgnaCugnasco, Sementina (Magadinoebene)
Medee, Bocchetta di2149715.230/121.290Vogorno > Cap.BorgnaPreonzo (Valle Leventina)
Cazzane, Bocchetta2104714.730/121.520Vogorno > Cap.BorgnaPreonzo, Moleno (Valle Leventina)
Rognoi, Bocchetta di2219713.450/121.820LavertezzoVogorno
Rierna, Bocchetta di2295710.960/130.210LavertezzoPersonico (Valle Leventina)
Gana, Butta della2207709.200/132.630FrascoPersonico (Valle Leventina)
Corte Nuovo, Passo di2431708.980/131.010GerraPersonico (Valle Leventina)
Gagnone, Passo del2217708.710/132.070Frasco > Cap.d'EfraPersonico (Valle Leventina)
Curtin, Passo del2242708.550/131.940Frasco > Cap.d'EfraPersonico (Valle Leventina)
Piatto, Passo di2108704.650/138.540SonognoChironico (Valle Leventina)
Barone, Passo2274701.360/139.940SonognoChironico (Valle Leventina)
Motto, Bassa di2274707.870/130.140LavertezzoGerra
right:
Lupo, Passo del2017704.870/120.360Corippo MergosciaGordevio (Valle Maggia)
Orgnana, Bocchetta di1950704.650/121.980LavertezzoGordevio (Valle Maggia)
Nimi, Passo di2048703.060/123.290Brione > Cap. AlpeGordevio (Valle Maggia)
Deva, Passo2036702.710/125.390BrioneMaggia (Valle Maggia)
Canova, Bocchetta2226696.050/130.780BrioneGiumaglio (Valle Maggia)
Pini, Bocchetta dei2198696.630/132.880BrioneMenzonio (Val Lavizzara)
Cocco, Passo del2142696.510/132.620BrioneMenzonio (Val Lavizzara)
Mügaia, Bocchetta di2518698.230/134.090BrioneSonogno
Ciossa2373700.480/132.110Brione > Val d'OsuraSognono
Redorta, Passo di2181699.010/135.850SonognoPrato-Sornico (Val Lavizzara)

Literature
  • Giuseppina Togni: Il prete rosso - Geschichte der Val Verzasca, Armando Dadò Editore, 2012, ISBN 978-88-8281-336-9.
  • Elfi Rüsch: Distretto di Locarno IV. Gesellschaft für Schweizerische Kunstgeschichte, Bern 2013, ISBN 978-3-03797-084-3.

References
  1. Deniale Pauli Falconi (2014-01-15). "Verzascatal" (in German). HDS. Retrieved 2014-11-17.
  2. "Spazzacamini - die Kaminfeger - Kindersklaven aus dem Tessin" (in German). Doppelpunkt, Radio DRS 1. 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2014-11-17.
  3. Daniel Benz (2012-09-27). "Ausflug ins Verzascatal: Der Weg der Spazzacamini" (in German). Beobachter 20/2012. Retrieved 2014-11-17.
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