h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The Valle Verzasca river flows through a rugged mountain valley in the south of Switzerland, not far from the Italian border. It's a beautiful region, with an almost Mediterranean climate.

Trekking is very popular in this valley. You can take the post from the railway station in Locarno to the village at the top end of the valley, Sonogno.

A walk along the track down the valley offers beautiful scenery of the river, with a varying landscape consisting of forests and meadows and small wellpreserved, typical mountain villages.

There are bus stops along the way, which means that you can choose between different distances - if you feel you've had enough, just check for signs to the nearest bus stop.

I spent my summer vacation last year in this region, and took some photos - here are two from the Valle Verzasca that I put up on my site:
http://hem.passagen.se/kristina.r/greenwater.htm
http://hem.passagen.se/kristina.r/hiking.htm

Hi Titania, I *knew* that you would write about the Verzasca.
Or else it would have been my job

I spent many summers there. First with my parents and then last autumn with my boyfriend and our VW-Bus.
German speaking researchers might know the programme "Was die Grossmutter noch wusste" (What Grandmother remembered). It's presented by Kathrin Rüegg, a Swiss author living in the Valle Verzasca. She has a farm there in the next to last village called Gerra Verzasca and a little shop where you can buy wool, earthenware, salami, wine, her books, trouts etc.

Maybe we should form a Valle Verzasca fan club? *tries to remember Gerra*

Good idea