Being born and raised in these Alpine Valleys and knowing our region like the back of our hands, we long to tell others all about the spectacular landscapes and help them to fully discover new parts of the Alps. This has been growing in our hearts for a while.

Because we were steeped in history and tradition, and through our personal work experiences in the field of Alpine tourism, mountain house architecture and Alpine rescue teams, we have come to consider the Alps as a territory with no frontiers.

The Alps are an area characterized by different languages, cultural, landscapes and history, but populated by communities who share the unique experience of living the mountain life deep in the heart of Europe.

PAOLO

 

Born and bred in Valchiavenna, in the heart of the Italian Alps, he inherited a deep respect for the Alpine way of life from his parents and acquired rich values from the experience of everyday life in The Alpine borderland between Italy and Switzerland.

 

Specialized in lighting design, Paolo worked for an acclaimed Italian lightning brand that frequently works within the Alpine hotel context.

He concluded this important experience in 2016 with an exceptional project to illuminate and enforce the beauty of the Acqua Fraggia waterfalls in Piuro, a natural monument in the Italian Alps.

 

From 2000, he has been part of the Italian Mountain Rescue team specializing in cartography, and search and rescue operations, for which he is also a national CORF instructor.

 

He loves trekking, freestyle skiing and photography. He is working on a number of mountain house restoration projects in the Alpine region, running and creating mountain holiday accommodation in Italy and abroad.

 

Passionate about web marketing and web design, the ExplorAlp Travel Blog website was his bright idea.

 

"Opening a window on the Alps with no frontiers, for the whole world"

 

FABIO

 

Born and bred in Valchiavenna in the heart of the Italian Alps, has always and ever been passionate about the mountain, especially about rock climbing, bouldering and mountain biking.

 

Thanks to his tourism studies he has worked and lived in numerous European countries, including Britain, Germany, France and Switzerland.

 

He is specialized in luxury hotel service, astute in his dealings with diverse cultures and situations. He has been an active member of the world concierges association of luxury hotels ”Les Clefs d’Or” for over 10 years, he is based mainly in Switzerland in Ascona and St. Moritz.

 

He loves travelling, bouldering, mountain biking, photography and wholesome mountain cooking. He is fluent in four languages.

 

Co-founder of ExplorAlp, he actively contributes to web editing and content, he also deals with public relations meeting companies and organizations in the tourism sector.

 

LORENZO

 

Born and raised in Valchiavenna, in the heart of Italian Alps and has long been a mountain enthusiast, especially of skiing, free ride and freestyle skiing.

 

Thanks to his degree in economics attained at Milan. He works in the field of finance for some of the most prominent banks in Italy and abroad.

 

The calling to his mountains brought him back home where alongside his own new activity, he is able to totally enjoy the snow, freeriding, his mountain bike and his Alpine valleys.

 

Since 2001, he has been a part of the Italian Mountain Rescue, where he specializes in Canyoning and has joined in numerous rescues.

 

Co-founder of ExplorAlp, he actively contributes to its editing, contents and financial- economic analysis.

 

CANNOBIO A CHARMING VILLAGE OF LAKE MAGGIORE

Cannobio is a charming village in the italian part of Lake Maggiore. With its beautiful promenade in the historic centre, its medieval facades , its local products and famous Sunday market, it has become a very popular and cherished destination.

• WHAT TO DO IN CANNOBIO
• WHERE TO SLEEP IN CANNOBIO
• HOW TO GET TO CANNOBIO

We absolutely suggest a walk in this delightfully colourful village, especially towards evening for an aperitif by the lake or a Mediterranean dinner at one of the Italian trattorias in the old town.

A beautiful promenade, a historic centre with medieval facades, in front of Lake Maggiore

Cannobio town has a lively, young vibe probably because of the number of camping parks in the area. It is not uncommon to experience a food and wine festival during a stay here during the summer months.

Unfortunally, we visited the Sunday market but were disappointed at the exaggerated amount of stalls selling generic goods with little dedication to local products.

CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS

"You feel the sensation of the sweet life as you stroll along the busy boardwalk in the evening. "

• ADD CANNOBIO TO YOUR MYALPS WISHLIST
• MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT CANNOBIO 
  

WHAT TO VISIT IN CANNOBIO AND IN THE NEARBY REGION

IN THE VILLAGE:

1. Walks in the old town and lake side.

2. Trekking in the Cannobina valley and in the Sant’ Anna gorge.

3. Dont miss the medioevale village Carmine Superiore.

4. Relax in the sun at the Lido of Cannobio.

IN THE  NEARBY REGION:

1. Book an excursion to Brissago island by boat.

2. Take a day trip to the Maggia and Verzasca valleys.

3. Visit the Unesco heritage site at Bellinzona’s castles.

4. Discover the Cardada day trip.

5. Drive on the panoramic road of the Maggiore lake

6. Visit Arona, Stresa and the Borromean islands.

7. Don't miss to visit Ascona and Locarno.

8. Spend a day at Lake Orta

WHERE TO SLEEP IN CANNOBIO - HOTELS, B&B, APARTMENTS

Cannobio offers some hotels and holiday houses. It is possible to find an accomodation in the town or in the panoramic villages of the lake.

Thanks to pictures, facilities informations and reviews, You can check easly the availability of Hotels, B&B and Holiday Houses in Cannobio and book the best solution for You, using this link:

BOOKING - HOTELS B&B HOLIDAY HOUSES IN CANNOBIO

HOW TO GET TO CANNOBIO

Cannobio is located in Italy, on the north side of Maggiore lake. It is connected and accessible by bus and with the boat service of the lake.

We advise you to park at the lido/ football field. On Sundays, during high season, take into consideration the heavy traffic and difficulty there may be finding parking due to the busy Sunday market.

FLIGHT CONNECTIONS: Check here for your flight on: 

ZHR - Zurich airport  3,00h

BSL - Basel airport  3,30h

 MXP - Milan Malpensa airport  1,30h

 LIN - Milan Linate airport  2,00h

DON'T MISS THIS TOWN OF THE ALPS

SAVE  IT NOW. It is Easy! Just Log-in your MyAlps personal area and then Add it to your MyExplorAlp Wishlist using the follow botton:

Are You not registered to Myalps yet? Do it here: MyAlps

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT CANNOBIO? 

CONTACT US NOW or let Your precious comment or suggestion in the follow Comment Form of this page.

GROTTI THE LOCAL TAVERN OF TESSIN

In Tessin (Ticino in italian), Grotto, a local tavern, is the synonym of relaxation, homemade food, polenta, cured meats, pasture cheeses and wine enjoyed outdoors.

Many Grotti are popolar in the beautiful Maggia Valley and Verzasca Valley. A beautiful location with a pubblic Grotto is in Giumaglio (Maggia valley), close to the Del Salto waterfall.

• WHAT TO DO IN THE MAGGIA VALLEY
• WHERE TO SLEEP IN THE MAGGIA VALLEY
• HOW TO GET TO THE MAGGIA VALLEY

These places were built to preserve wine and food. They are sometimes built into the rock and are always located in cool shaded places, often they are not far from the town or at the edge of the forest, sometimes, they can even be found on river banks or streams.

Some Grotti maintain their initial function of preserving wine, cured meats and cheese doubling as a private get together location.

Others, with time, have taken on a public character and have turned into restaurants or meeting points where, in a rustic and informal environment, local food and products are served.

• ADD GROTTI TO YOUR MYALPS WISHLIST
• MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT GROTTI 
  

• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
•  

WHAT TO DO AND VISIT IN THE MAGGIA VALLEY AND IN THE NEARBY REGION

IN THE VALLEY:

1. Try steaming hot polenta straight off the stove, in one of Tessin’s typical Grottos.

2. Swim and relax in one of the many mountain river pools.

3. Visit the typical local stone villages built with rock material taken rigorously from the upper Maggia valleys.

4. Go trekking one of the hundreads of magnificent paths in the valley.

5. Do not miss the path between Sonlerto and Bignasco passing through Foroglio.

5. Visit the famous church of San Giovanni Battista at Mogno (Val Lavizzara).

6. Discover the wild green Bavona valley you will fall in love with it. 

IN THE  NEARBY REGION:

1. Book an excursion to Brissago island by boat.

2. Take a day trip to the Verzasca valley.

3. Visit the Unesco heritage site at Bellinzona’s castles.

4. Discover the Cardada day trip.

5. Drive on the panoramic road of the Maggiore lake.

6. Visit Arona, Stresa and the Borromean islands.

7. Don't miss Ascona the peral of Lake Maggiore.

8. Reach the panoramic sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso above Locarno.

WHERE TO SLEEP IN THE MAGGIA VALLEY - HOTELS, B&B, APARTMENTS

The Maggia Valley offers some hotels B&B and holiday houses. It is possible to find an accomodation in the Valley or in the panoramic villages of Lake Maggiore.

Thanks to pictures, facilities informations and reviews, You can check easly the availability of Hotels, B&B and Holiday Houses in the Maggia valley and book the best solution for You, using this link:

BOOKING - HOTELS B&B HOLIDAY HOUSES IN THE MAGGIA VALLEY

HOW TO GET TO THE MAGGIA VALLEY

The Maggia valley is located on the north side of Maggiore lake. The Maggia valley is almost 50km long and starts at the town of Ponte Brolla, situated 15 mins by car from Locarno. We urge you to bring your car or hire one if you visit Maggia valley as busses are in frequent.

A beautiful location to eat in a public Grotto is in Giumaglio (Maggia Valley), close to the Del Salto waterfall.

FLIGHT CONNECTIONS: Check here for your flight on: 

ZHR - Zurich airport  2,30h

BSL - Basel airport  3,00h

 MXP - Milan Malpensa airport  1,30h

DON'T MISS THIS SITE OF THE ALPS

SAVE  IT NOW. It is Easy! Just Log-in your MyAlps personal area and then Add it to your MyExplorAlp Wishlist using the follow botton:

Are You not registered to Myalps yet? Do it here: MyAlps

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE GROTTI? 

CONTACT US NOW or let Your precious comment or suggestion in the follow Comment Form of this page.

&

Polenta has a long tradition in Ticino and has been a staple food for a significant part of the population for centuries.

Today, a genuine Ticino polenta cooked on an outdoor fire or in a fireplace is no longer very common. Fortunately, throughout Ticino, there are many grottoes and restaurants who offer customers this traditional dish, prepared from the crackling fire as tradition requires.

Polenta is not a dish suited to those who are impatient: cooking polenta on a low flame requires approximately two hours, while stirring the polenta frequently.

Those who are patient enough to wait will be rewarded with a genuine dish of a splendid golden colour.

Polenta can be served with various Ticino specialities such as: Alpine cheeses, ‘mortadella’ (Bologna sausage), braised meat, stew and many other tasty side dishes.

OUR FAVOURITE PLACES WHERE TO EAT THE BEST POLETA TICINESE

1. Grotto La Froda Foroglio - Valle Maggia

2. Grottino Ticinese - Losone

3. Grotto Pozzasc - Peccia - Valle Maggia

4. Osteria Paradiso - Vogorno - Val Verzasca

5. Grotto Al Capon - Brione sopra Minusio

6. Osteria Du Rii - Intragna- Centovalli