Formazza

Formazza is a comune (municipality) in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, within the province of Verbano-Cossio-Ossola. It is situated in the upper Val Formazza, a high Alpine valley close to the Swiss border. The landscape is dominated by mountains, glaciers, and pastures, and the Toce river runs through the valley. The municipality comprises a string of villages along the valley floor and slopes.

Formazza has a small, rural-character population. Its economy has traditionally centered on agriculture and forestry, with dairy farming and cheese production playing a role. In recent decades, tourism has become important, drawing visitors for hiking, mountaineering, and winter sports, as well as for the characteristic Alpine scenery and village architecture.

The area preserves traditional Alpine architecture and a rural cultural landscape. Local settlements include historic churches and mountain huts reflecting the region’s agrarian heritage. Formazza serves as a base for outdoor activities in the Formazza Valley and offers opportunities to experience the mountain environment and local rural culture. Access is primarily via roads connecting to Domodossola, linking Formazza with surrounding Lombardy and Piedmont areas and facilitating travel to northern Switzerland.