Departure point:   

Villadossola (VB), Italy

How to get there:   

By train: Villadossola Station, Ferrovie dello Stato. Timetables: http://www.trenitalia.com/; www.ffs.ch
By bus: bus for Villadossola, Circular South line, line Domodossola - Pievevergonte and line Domodossola - Antrona. Timetables: www.vcoinbus.it
By car: A26 motorway to Gravellona Toce, then SS33 Sempione, exit for Villadossola.

General Description:   

The Antronesca Route was once used to pass through the Antrona Valley in the Valley of Saas by the Antrona Pass (or Saas Pass), so it was used to go from Ossola to the Valais, connecting  Villadossola (IT) with Visp (CH). The Antrona valley was known between Ossola’s valleys as the “Iron Valley” for its  mines which gave birth to the iron centre of Villadossola.

The route:   

From Villadossola, going up the Antrona Valley, after 5 hours you will reach Antronapiana, passing through Noga, Casa dei Conti, Montescheno, Seppiana, Viganella, Ruginenta, Madonna, Locasca. From Antronapiana on the second day follow for the lake of Antrona, the lake of Campliccioli and then through woods and secular trees you will reach the lake of Cingino, famous for its “ibex climbers” on the dam’s vertical wall, and the Bivacco del Cingino, the bivouac where to stay overnight. From here, on the third day, through parts of mule tracks you reach the pass and then after a steep descent you enter the deep valley of Furggtal and in the valley of Saas and in the end reach Saas Almagell.

Useful information:   

Itinerary of the Antronesca Route indicated as Strada Antronesca C0

Where to eat:   

Ristorante San Pietro, Via Provinciale 1, loc. San Pietro, Antrona Schieranco VB, (IT) tel. +39 0324 571259
Ristorante lago Pineta, loc- lago di Antrona, Antrona Schieranco VB, (IT) tel +39 0324 51808 www.lagopineta.com