Intragna
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Intro
This impressive village on a rocky spur at the confluence of the Isorno and Melezza rivers has Ticino's highest church tower and an 80-m high railway viaduct.
Intragna at a glance
The small village of Intragna has a variety of interesting sights: An interesting collection in the regional Museum of Centovalli and Pedemonte gives insights into the history and traditions of the region. The collection is spread over three floors and 21 exhibition rooms. It documents the centuries-old tradition of the families of Intragna, who were employed by numerous Italian municipalities as fire masters, as well as the production of nut oil, bread, and the cloth shoes (Peduli) unique to this area, among other topics.
Intragna is well known for the tower of the San Gottardo Church, which at 65 meters is the highest church tower in Ticino. The church, which is dedicated to St. Bernard, was reconstructed in 1722 and has a baroque altar with an elegant balustrade. The church and tower are open to the public.
The 80-meter high railway viaduct is also a major attraction of the village. The famous Centovalli Railway crosses here the Isorno River. At the former mule track, Intragna-Remagliasco, you will find a beautiful stone bridge, Ponte Romano, also called Roman bridge. This bridge was built in 1578 and is the oldest bridge in the region. The Melezza River flows under the bridge. Another special feature is that the villages of Pila and Rasa, which also belong to Intragna, can only be reached on foot or by cable car (the Pila cable car is out of service until further notice).
Guided Tours
Starting from the Piazza, tours take in San Gottardo church (with its 19th-century organ) and the Centovalli and Piedmont Regional Museum (focusing on emigration and the destinies of young chimney-sweeps from the Centovalli). A must: climb Ticino's highest church tower (65 meters high with 165 stairs).
The tour ends at the little Bottega Cento Rustici which offers a host of typical regional products including Farignin (a sweet liqueur based on Farina bóna), grape marc and sugar in original bottles shaped like Intragna's campanile.