Locarno - Driving tour into Val Verzasca

Lavertezzo (548 m/1,798ft), at the mouth of the wide Val Lavertezzo, is a charming village with a two-arched bridge and a quarry of excellent granite. The road then climbs through the villages of Aquino (574 m/1,883ft), Motta (623 m/2,044ft) and Chiosetto (645 m/2,116ft) and crosses to the other bank of the river. From there it is 8km/5mi to Brione-Verzasca.

From Gorbola the road winds its way uphill to the left and continues along the left bank of the river high up on the slopes of the deeply slashed Val Verzasca, an inhospitable valley which has been considerably changed by the construction of a dam. It has few inhabitants except in summer. 3km/2mi farther on is the Verzasca dam.

Brione-Verzasca (760 m/2,494ft) is a picturesque village at the mouth of the Val d'Osola. The church is the finest in the valley, with a 14th C. figure of St Christopher on the outside and beautiful 14th-15th C. wall-paintings in the interior. The little castle with four towers belonged to the noble Marcacci family of Locarno.

The road continues through the straggling village of Gerra (826 m/2,710ft) and the closely huddled settlement of Frasco (885 m/2,904ft) from which point it is 7km/4mi to Sonogno.

Gordola (206 m/676ft) is a neat village at the entry of the Verzasca into the Ticino plain (Piano di Magadino).

Sonogno (920 m/3,019ft) is a beautifully situated mountain village at the end of the post road. The valley forks into the Val Vigornesso (to the right), with a number of other villages, and the Val Redorta (to the left).

Located in a little square at the entrance to the village is the Verzasca Valley Museum with interior decorations and working tools, as well as exhibits on weaving, clothing, animal breeding, cheese making and religious beliefs of the valley.

The mighty Verzasca dam, 220 m/722ft high, built 1960-65, has formed the Lago di Vogorno, an artificial lake with a capacity of 105million cu. m/3,708million cu. ft. Beneath the dam is the hydro-electric power station (235million kWh annually).

The road continues up the east side of the lake (6km/4mi long), passing through several tunnels, some of them on sharp bends. Mergoscia can be seen high up on the other side. From here it is 6km/4mi to Vogorno.

Vogorno (490 m/1,6908ft) is a picturesque village with 13th C. frescoes of saints in the upper church. 2km/ 1 m: road on left (1km/0.6mi) to the little village of Corippo (565 m/1,854ft). From Corippo it is 2km/1mi to Lavertezzo.