Valle Cannobina was born on 1 January 2019 from the merger of Cavaglio-Spoccia, Cursolo-Orasso and Falmenta: a very young municipality for villages that have been emptying since 1880 — the valley has lost almost 85 per cent of its residents since then, now 518, scattered across hamlets, with the town hall at Lunecco. The seven stars on the coat of arms stand for those hamlets.
Holding the villages together is the Strada Borromea, the mule track that stitches the two sides of the valley and recalls Saint Charles Borromeo's pastoral visit of 1574; the pastures of Provola fall within the Val Grande National Park. Three little museums survive between Lunecco, Falmenta and Crealla, from the ecomuseum to the wine-press collection.
What to see in Valle Cannobina
chiesa di San Lorenzo Martire Falmenta's parish church: a bell tower born as the Mazzarditi tyrants' keep and a wooden altar of 1678.
chiesa di San Donnino Cavaglio's parish church, consecrated in 1517, with its Romanesque bell tower in the churchyard.
Museo del Vecchio Torchio In Falmenta, the old press with which the valley drew its oil from walnuts. Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
Near Valle Cannobina
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Places to see within 25 km
Outside Valle Cannobina, but an easy day trip away.
