This place does not need to be specially advertised. The Verzasca Valley is very well known for its beautiful landscapes, stone bridges and houses and for the emerald water in the Verzasca River.
Sensational views from the village of Mergoscia
To start with, a seasonable bus ride to the village of Mergoscia. This small mountain village has sensational views of the Lago di Vogorno lake, one of the highest dams in Europe at 220 metres and a beautiful mountain range. The village itself is also very interesting. It is therefore worth stopping here for a while to soak up the atmosphere of the place.
By way of trivia, let me add that it was from this dam that James Bond jumped in the 1995 film GoldenEye. And shortly after the film’s release, the dam began to be rented out for bungee jumping. Just the thought of it turns my stomach. For the height of this dam is staggering.
So many impressions, and this is only the beginning of the route
As for the road itself, it is quite easy and very well signposted. Only for the first kilometre, up to the Perbioi stop, you will face a slight climb. Further on, it resembles an obstacle walk. Therefore, watch your step.
The deserted village of Corippo
The next point on the route is the beautifully situated hilltop village of Corippo. It is visible from a distance and is reached by a small stone bridge. Although the village has its own coat of arms, church and even a mayor, its population at the end of 2019 was just nine people. The mayor, on the other hand, was the only person actively working in 2017. The rest of the municipality’s population was already enjoying retirement. To this day, the population is unlikely to have increased significantly. For this reason, the local authorities have been trying to revitalise the place for several years, by converting many empty houses into hotels and leisure facilities.
The picturesque village of Lavertezzo
Continuing upstream you reach the picturesque village of Lavertezzo, with its characteristic stone buildings and the 18th century church of Santa Maria degli Angeli. However, the village is mainly associated with a very photogenic stone bridge – the Ponte dei Salti. It is located a few hundred metres outside the village (stop Oviga).
This place attracts crowds especially in summer, when you can bathe in the crystal clear emerald-coloured water. It is the perfect place to take a break on one of the huge stones just by the bridge and feast your eyes on the views.
The trail does not end at the bridge
I would hugely encourage you not to end the trail at the bridge, but to go a little further, to Mott or higher. This section is really attractive and the bus reaches the Sonogno itself. The view of the majestic Poncione della Marcia mountain (2’455 m), which leads hikers to Brione itself, is also motivating to continue the hike.
Finally, a glimpse of the Verzasca Valley, but this is from the window of the bus that takes us back to Locarno.
