Val Bedretto (All'Acqua, Nufenen Pass)

From Airolo a road, narrow in places, goes west up the Val Bedretto, passing through a number of small villages which offer quiet summer holiday accommodation. The road through Fontana is particularly constricted. Villa (1,358 m/4,456ft) has a five-sided church tower designed to resist avalanches. 1km / 0.6mi farther on we come to the picturesque mountain village of Bedretto (1,405 m/4,610ft).

From All'Acqua (1,605 m/5,266ft) it is a three-hour walk to the San Giacomo pass, which leads into the Toce valley (Domodossola). The road continues over the Nufenen (Novena) pass (2,478 m/8,133ft; view) into the Rhône valley.