Valsolda is a ''

comune A (; : , ) is an administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions () and provinces (). The can also have the City status in Italy, titl ...

'' (municipality) of about 1,400 inhabitants in the

Province of Como The province of Como (; Comasco dialect, Comasco: ) is a Provinces of Italy, province in the Lombardy region of Italy. It borders the Switzerland, Swiss cantons of Ticino and Grisons, Grigioni to the north, the Italian provinces of Province of ...

in the

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

region

Lombardy The Lombardy Region (; ) is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in northern Italy and has a population of about 10 million people, constituting more than one-sixth of Italy's population. Lombardy is ...

on the border with

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

. It is located about north of

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

, about north of

Como Como (, ; , or ; ) is a city and (municipality) in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como. Nestled at the southwestern branch of the picturesque Lake Como, the city is a renowned tourist destination, ce ...

and east of

Lugano Lugano ( , , ; ) is a city and municipality within the Lugano District in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. It is the largest city in both Ticino and the Italian-speaking region of southern Switzerland. Lugano has a population () of , and an u ...

. Valsolda (''Vallis Solida'' in Latin) gives the name to the river Soldo who cuts across the valley. The municipality was formed in 1927 and it is subdivided into nine villages: Cressogno, San Mamete (the municipal seat), Albogasio, Oria and Santa Margherita on the shores of

Lake Lugano Lake Lugano ( or , from ; ) is a glacial lake which is situated on the border between southern Switzerland and northern Italy. The lake, named after the city of Lugano, is situated between Lake Como and Lago Maggiore. It was cited for the first t ...

, as well as Loggio, Drano, Puria, Dasio and Castello on the mountains above. Valsolda is home to the largest

natural reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geologi ...

with over 785 acres of forest populated by deer, roes, chamois, yews, foxes, eagles, hawks and sparrows. Valsolda was the set of some the works of novelist Antonio Fogazzaro, including '' Malombra'' (1881) and '' Piccolo mondo antico'' (1895); his house in Oria is still visitable. Other notable figures from the area include painter

Paolo Pagani Paolo Pagani (22 September 1655 – 5 May 1716) also known as Paolo Antonio Pagani or Paolo Pagano, was an Italian Baroque/Mannerism Painting, painter of the 17th century. Biography Pagani was born in Valsolda, now a municipality in the Provi ...

, architect

Pellegrino Tibaldi San Sebastiano (Milan) Pellegrino Tibaldi (1527, Valsolda - 27 May 1596, Milan), also known as Pellegrino di Tibaldo de Pellegrini, was an Italian mannerist architect, sculptor, and mural painter. Biography Tibaldi was born in Puria di Valsolda ...

, writer and journalist Brunella Gasperini, writer and translator Fabio Pusterla, TV anchors

Victoria Cabello Victoria Ellen Cabello (born 12 March 1975, in London) is an Italian television presenter, and actress. She was born in London to an Italian father and an English mother, and grew up in Valsolda, a small town in the province of Como, just a few ...

and Kurt Felix, singer Paola Del Medico and the family of World champion figureskater

Gundi Busch Gundula "Gundi" Busch (29 April 1935 – 31 January 2014) was a German figure skater. She was the 1954 World champion, the 1954 European champion, and a two-time West German national champion. Life and career Early life Gundula Busch was ...

. Among the sights in the town is the church of Sant'Ambrogio and San Bartolomeo Church. Valsolda borders the following municipalities:

Cadro Cadro is Quarter (country subdivision), quarter of the city of Lugano and a former Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the district of Lugano (district), Lugano in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 14 April ...

(Switzerland),

Cimadera Cimadera is a former municipality in the district of Lugano in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 14 April 2013 the former municipalities of Bogno, Cadro, Carona, Certara, Cimadera, Valcolla and Sonvico merged into the municipality of ...

(Switzerland),

Claino con Osteno Claino con Osteno (Comasco: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Como in the Italy, Italian region of Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about north of Como. It is a small ''comune'' on Lake Lugano, composed of a series o ...

(Italy),

Alta Valle Intelvi Alta Valle Intelvi is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy. It was created on 1 January 2017 after the merger of the former ''comuni'' of Lanzo d'Intelvi, Pellio Intelvi and Ramponio Verna. Main sigh ...

(Italy),

(Switzerland),

Porlezza 240px, Interiori of the church of San Vittore. Porlezza is a ''comune'' (municipality) on Lake Lugano in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about north of Como. Porlezza borders the following m ...

(Italy),

Sonvico Sonvico (''Sonvìch'' in the Lombard language) is a Quarter (urban subdivision), quarter of the city of Lugano and former Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality of the Lugano (district), Lugano district in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton o ...

(Switzerland),

Val Rezzo Val Rezzo (Comasco: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about north of Como, on the border with Switzerland. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 202 ...

(Italy) and

Villa Luganese Villa Luganese is a Quarter (country subdivision), quarter of the city of Lugano, Switzerland. Villa Luganese was formerly a municipality of its own, having been incorporated into Lugano in 2008. References External links * Official site of t ...

(Switzerland). Valsolda is twinned with the town of

Węgrów Węgrów (; ) is a town in eastern Poland with 12,796 inhabitants (2013), capital of Węgrów County in the Masovian Voivodeship. History First mentioned in historical records in 1414, Węgrów received its city charter in 1441. Between 16th ...

in Poland.

References

External links

Official website

Pro Loco Valsolda

Museo Casa Pagani

Premio Antonio Fogazzaro

Cities and towns in Lombardy Italy–Switzerland border crossings Italy–Switzerland border {{Como-geo-stub