THE ITINERARY IS ACCESSIBLE FOR TOURISTS WITH SPECIFIC NEEDS (Project "FOR ALL Tourism for All All Tourists")
Minimum duration: 1 day
Difficulty of the route: Low
Length of the route in km: 40 km
LOCATION DESCRIPTION
Domodossola is a beautiful town nestled in the valley floor of the Toce river: from its airy plain, the view unfolds in every direction towards beautiful Alpine valleys worth exploring. The town, the heart of the most authentic Ossola, lies at the centre of seven Alpine valleys, a borderland with Switzerland and a crossroads of trade and culture. A visit to its splendid old medieval centre is a must, to be explored at a leisurely pace with eyes on the historic buildings and porticoed squares. What fascinates the visitor is the Borgo della Cultura. Don't miss the historic, thousand-year-old Saturday market. Domodossola offers the perfect mix of culture, shopping and quality food and wine, to be enjoyed in the city's many restaurants.
INFORMATION
PARKING:
The Municipality of Domodossola allows vehicles displaying the European Disabled Person's Identification Card to park in any parking space free of charge.
MUNICIPAL POLICE:
Piazza Mellerio 6 - Domodossola
Email: polizia.municipale@comune.domodossola.vb.it - Tel +39 0324492233
TOURIST OFFICE:
Piazza Matteotti - Domodossola
Email: infopoint@visitossola.it - Tel. +39 0324 248265 - www.visitossola.it
WHAT TO SEE
Domodossola can be reached by car, but the train is a good alternative. The international station of Domodossola offers assistance to people with disabilities by means of a trolley lift. The routes that allow assistance are the Milan-Domodossola line and the international routes, while there are difficulties on the regional Piedmont route. The itinerary through the city can start from the station, possibly leaving the car in one of the reserved spaces in Piazza Matteotti. It climbs up Corso Paolo Ferraris (shopping street) to the Borgo della Cultura and the beautiful Piazza Mercato. The route is barrier-free and mostly flat. Domodossola's historic centre, a cultural jewel of absolute national importance, underwent major architectural redevelopment in the early 2000s. The project designed a new image of the entire historic centre, through the redevelopment of the medieval wall system, important buildings and the graphic-historical symbol that represents it, the pentagon. Piazza Mercato and the main streets of the Borgo della Cultura are paved with smooth stone slabs and are barrier-free, while some side streets and Piazza Chiossi are cobbled. There are stone slab paths, but unfortunately, they are only 60 cm wide and can therefore be difficult for wider wheelchairs. Within the Borgo della Cultura you can visit Palazzo San Francesco and Casa de Rodis with permanent collections and temporary exhibitions of national importance. Of historical importance is a visit to the Sala Storica della Resistenza and the neoclassical Mellerio Chapel.
A 15-minute drive from Domodossola takes you to Alpe Lusentino, the ski resort Domobianca open in both summer and winter. From the main car park, where there are a number of spaces reserved for people with disabilities, there is easy access via a short dirt track to the Lusebar (with accessible toilets). The chairlift always guarantees service for disabled people, even in winter, with the lift being stopped for the time necessary to ensure access. The first chairlift takes you to Foppiano and the Baita Motti restaurant, with access at the same level as the arrival of the chairlift and a lift to the panoramic terraces and the restaurant. This facility has a dedicated toilet (info: baitamotti@domobianca.it - tel. +39 032444652).
16 km from Domodossola, in the ancient medieval village of Vogogna, we find the Castello Visconteo, one of the most important and well-known symbols of the Ossola Valley, a real jewel that has come down to us in perfect condition from the distant past. The hamlet is not easily accessible, as it is on a slope and has a cobbled floor. Access to the Vogogna Castle for people with disabilities is unfortunately limited to certain areas and much depends on the disability level. The castle is located in an elevated position above the village and can be reached by a staircase from the historic centre or by a panoramic lift from Vicolo Visconti in the historic centre. The lift takes you up to the castle gardens. It is free and open during castle opening hours. Unfortunately, to access the reception and the tour of the castle halls you have to go down a narrow street with a staircase. Inside the castle there is a lift to visit the first and second floors, but the rooms on almost every floor are connected by 2/3 steps. In addition, access to the viewing tower is by steps only.
For information contact castellodivogogna@gmail.com - Tel. +39 0324347217.
In the surrounding area, to spend a few hours in the midst of nature, you can walk along the path inside Bosco Tenso in Premosello Chiovenda or at the Collina dello Sport in Villadossola where you can relax among well-kept meadows in the shade of a few trees.
OVERALL ACCESSIBILITY DESCRIPTION:
The entire route is accessible for people with reduced mobility and there are no particular barriers. The Vogogna Castle itinerary has several limitations, as indicated.
Path maker: Fabrizio Marta - Rotex
Author of texts: Fabrizio Marta - Rotex
