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DOMODOSSOLA |
| At the foot of the Simplon Pass, but handily situated on the main train line between Milan and Bern, in Switzerland, and with frequent trains (15 daily) from Novara, is the little town of DOMODOSSOLA . With its arcaded medieval centre and market square, it warrants a visit in its own right, but is more famous as the starting point of a scenic train ride. "La Vigezzina", a small, pale-blue train, connects Domodossola with Locarno, across the border in Switzerland, taking in the vineyards and chestnut forests of the Val Vigezzo and Centovalli along the way. The scenery is gorgeous, and, although the ride is pricier than the regular train, it is well worth it; InterRail passes are valid in any case, if you have one. The journey to Locarno takes an hour and a half, but you can get off and explore at any of the pretty flower-strewn stations en route; when you want the next train to stop, just remember to raise the red and white signal on the platform. An alternative way back is to take the hydrofoil from Locarno across Lago Maggiore to Arona . |