Green, orange and red like the steep slopes that are visible everywhere in autumn: Yellow like the corn, the symbol of the valley; blue like the water flowing down the river and like the sky above us, which allows the sun to illuminate the valley up to the highest peaks. These are the colours that give us strength, invite us to live in the ‘here and now’ and enjoy the natural and cultural beauty of the Onsernone Valley to the full. The Onsernone Valley offers interesting projects and a variety of activities that can be fully enjoyed during a short or longer visit to the Ascona-Locarno region and its impressive landscapes, even in autumn.
Villa Edera, a cultural symbol of the valley and home to numerous intellectuals, is a jewel from the late 19th century and is located in Auressio, the first village at the entrance to the beautiful Onsernone Valley, which can be reached by travelling through the winding valley.
The villa was renovated in 1990 with the aim of accommodating school groups who wanted to spend the night in the Onsernone Valley and learn about its traditions. In 2017, the villa took another step forward thanks to the Wild Valley Hostel project. The merger of three hostels in the Onsernone Valley, centrally managed by a single host and integrated into a threefold collective vision: to accommodate backpackers and nature lovers, to promote the local economy and to attract new visitors and residents to this beautiful valley.
Today, the numerous mills in the Onsernone Valley have almost all disappeared or are no longer in operation, but the mills in Loco and Vergeletto remain and bear witness to a tradition that can still be felt in the air. This is also thanks to the significant restoration and reactivation of the Loco mill in the 1990s, which marked a return to grinding maize to make polenta.
A speciality and unique to the Onsernone region is the traditional farina bóna, a flour made from roasted and very finely ground corn. This flour, which used to be part of the daily diet, disappeared with the change in eating habits in the post-war period.
The restoration of the mill in Loco has awakened the desire to revive old traditions and the historical knowledge of the valley and paved the way for the resumption of Farina Bóna production. Today, this flour is produced in the Vergeletto mill and used for various products, including the famous biscuits from the Onsernone Valley.
A glorious sunny day, fresh air that invigorates the senses, a rucksack on your back and hiking boots on your feet: The Onsernone Valley offers a variety of tours that are perfect for spending an authentic autumn day in the midst of unspoilt wilderness.
One of the most enchanting places in the valley is the Salei area. Here you can not only enjoy a panoramic view that stretches as far as Lake Maggiore, but you can also discover a beautiful mountain lake that shines like a pearl. The options are many: you can either take a longer hike from the valley or take the Zott-Salei cable car up to the Salei and choose your route from there. Whatever you choose, the Capanna Alpe Salei hut is a must for enjoying the sun on the terrace, accompanied by typical delicacies prepared with love by the guardians.