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Val Grande is the widest wilderness area in Italy, and possibly one of the largest in Europe. It used to be an important centre for exploitation of wood, later it's been the shelter for independence fighters against Fascism/Nazism during the final period of WWII. Both these reasons left impressive traces in the vally, that is now completely abandoned: you may easily find the remaining signs of past importance and human settlements.
Written Aug 21, 2003
Website: www.parcovalgrande.it
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Weel, this is a kind of "must do" actiivty whose period of validity is quite reduced to those few weeks along the year when summer is so hot you will be able to challenge the freezing waters of Pogallo's. At the time the picture was taken, water temperature was well below the home running water's one, maybe 12-15°C! But - provided you survive the first minute - it's really rewarding.
Written Aug 21, 2003
Address: 40 minutes walk North of Cicogna, towards Pogallo
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Val Pogallo is the easiest way to have a direct contact with the National park of Val Grande. There's an easy path that drives you in the wood, along the Pogallo creek (difficult to reach, but cnstantly down there...) up to Pogallo. Pogallo was a very important centre of the valley until a few decades ago, there are still some ruins witnessing of an ancient hotel.
Written Aug 21, 2003
Address: 1:30 hours walking North of Cicogna
Alpe Bettina: So many empty houses around.......
lichinga Says: Pretty basic an accomodation, strictly speaking. There are many houses abandoned by sheperds years ago, but still in reasonable conditions. You may find lots of them along the valley - no key, no reservation, no credit card, no bathroom, no room-service! Unique sensation,...
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Yes, 3 km before even reaching Cicogna, you have to pass through a large hole, making the function of a tunnel. It's been hand made during the WWI, but it is still there and there's no way to avoid it.
Written Aug 19, 2003
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Reaching Cicogna is not easy at all: and it's better like that! The place is tiny and peaceful, it deserves to be achjived through a difficult path. In this case, the only way to get there is to use your own feet, or your car, provided it is not a wide one such a motorhome.
You may see the raod is narrow, winding and it offers scarce possibilities to give way to other cars in the opposite direction.
Written Aug 19, 2003
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Favorite thing: Rovegro is a little village you will find on your way from Lake Maggiore to Cicogna and the Val Grande. There you may visit one of the three visitors centres established by the National Park to introduce you to the beauties of nature around that area.
Fondest memory: Houses are traditionally built making as wide as possible use of local stones, called "bèola". Address and details of Val Grande National park visitors centre may be found at this address.
Written Aug 21, 2003
The "capital" of Val Grande National Park
Val Grande is one of the largest wilderness areas in Europe. It is also a National Park, established since 1993 Parco Nazionale della Val Grande
Build your own Cicogna page
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