Uphill towards the gorges of Uriezzo

The Restaurant Bar Pizzeria Campagna is immersed in the green plain of Verampio in Antigorio Valley.
Passed the exit of Domodossola, be careful to the indications for Formazza and Antigorio Valley direction Crodo. Beyond the famous city, renowned for its mineral waters, carry on towards Baceno and soon find a road that leads to Verampio.

I arrive at Campagnola at 10 am and Enrico is already preparing the horses for a walk and ... the little Lucrezia gives him a hand!

Climb over Golia is not an easy task (for its size .. could not choose better name guessed!), but I'm finally in the saddle. Adjust stirrups and reins and head for the outer field where there are other Amazons waiting for me!

Claudia, Veronica, Valentina, Lucrezia… Andrea…

... And Enrico closes the line to keep us under control! The group is ready!
A few hundred meters on asphalt and we are immediately on the trail that from Verampio climbs to Baceno

Lucrezia mounts Starlight: it is only 10 years-old but is already a promise of riding country!

Our horses are two argentinian giants... luckily their size is directly proportional to their goodness!
Destination of our walk: the gorges of Uriezzo. These are accessible from three directions: on a path that starts from the Plain of Verampio (our roadmap today), a path that starts from the road before Pioda and descends to Uriezzo. For the third route, which is also more convenient, it must travel the road that starts under Premia and continues in the direction Crego-Uriezzo in the Gola di Balmafredda, where the valley narrows between two towering rocky ramparts, until you reach the characteristic Oratory of Santa Lucia (where you can park and watch an information panel about the Gorges).
Ice streams, sub-glacial streams, the violent flow of debris between ice and rock, have shaped the landscape today is offered to our gaze. Between the Plains of Verampio and Premia there are meny reports of geological history, particularly fascinating and unique. Ravines, boilers, kettles and ravines create mysterious scenes that give the impression of entering into the bowels of the Earth!

After an half hour of journey, we arrive on the bridge that lies between the exit of the gorge south and the Marmitte dei Giganti. It is always better going across the bridge one at a time. The horses may be frightened about these steps, so it is advisable to maintain a safe distance and have "free rein" to handle any unforeseen.

We continue our walk by adapting the gait to the summer weather, to limit the efforts of our horse: is good that the march takes place mainly at a walk, with a short time at trot. We are nevertheless encouraged by the choice of our itinerary that is definitely cool: sheltered from the sun on a woodland path in the mountains!

We pass the entrance of the gorge but we do not stop because we have to accompany Claudia and Veronica ...

Continue a few hundred meters ...

... And here we are at our first stop in the dirt yard of the church of Santa Lucia, also called "oratory". We greet our friends who continue their walk to Baceno while Lucrezia, Andrea, Enrico and I retraced our steps back along the dirt road, forbidden to cars, along a nice little stone house, enclosed by a fence in the logs.

We follow it until we find the signs for the South Gorge. The descent is just ahead, about a hundred meters, and it is marked by a sign and can be reached by some stairs with wood handrails.
We tie our horses to trees at a suitable distance and we go to visit the gorge.

After a few steps, we are about ten meters below ground and we can walk the whole route by walking quietly on moist soil.
The gorge south is amazing! This is cutting deep into the rock excavated by strong falls in gradual retreat as part of the ancient system of streams that flowed to the bottom of the glacier that once ran through the valley. The peculiarity of the gorges of Uriezzo is the fact that the river that runs through them now doesn’t do that, so you can walk easily walk in them, aided by iron ladders and walkways linking the unevenness of the steps.
We continue the tour by following the signs for the Marmitte dei Giganti. As we dismounted, on the occasion to take a walk and stretch our legs ... led him by hand for about ten minutes. In this way, the horse takes a breath and eased the back that has borne our weight for the whole walk!

Headed Verampio, we stop to admire the typical Marmitte along the current course of Toce river: it’s an incredible spectacle!

When we come back from our riding, which lasted about two hours, a well-deserved drink for the little Lucrezia and for his faithful friend Starlight ... They share everything, even a can of tea!

But the rest of the group wants to refresh! We sit at the table and the chef offers us many possibilities, from starters to dessert. I taste a unique pasta with pesto sauce and anchovies and then a Milanese with chips! (all for the modest sum of 12 €, drinks included). Someone say that riding is a sport where only the horse makes trouble .. I do not share much this thought .. and then, I’m very hungry!

Almost forgot! At the Campagnola is possible also for young people living wonderful adventures with ponies that Enrico makes available to its customers (the cost to rent a pony for half an hour is 7 €, while the cost for the excursion to the gorge is 15 €). For further information or bookings please call 0324/62349 Enrico or 0324/62199

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