I’ve seen many breath-taking places in my life, but I’m yet to see one that is as beautiful as river Verzasca, a narrow valley located in Lavertezzo, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland.
Perhaps the most deadly thing about this emerald green body of water, is its deceit. At a first glance the water looks calm and at best harmless. But if you take a closer look, you will notice the violence of the currents when they splash onto the white rocks. In most parts of the river they are invisible, but don’t let this fool you, the currents are there. The rocks which add to the magnificence of this river, also pose a danger of its own, they are slippery and it’s easy to get trapped in between the crevices. Therefore if you fall you will either get trapped in the cracks and drown, or you will be caught in the inescapable suction. Gosh, I’m depressing aren’t I? I should be telling you to rob a bank to get there, but here I am, being a queen of Doom.
Ok, don’t let this depress you, if you are careful, you can still enjoy this pocket of nature without losing your life. When you venture further down into the valley, you will eventually get to the most popular spot, which tourists have dubbed: The Maldives of Milan, this spot is perfect for swimming. Above it is Ponte dei Salti a double-arched Roman bridge, which was built in the 17th century.
The calmer part of the river, here you can swim until the cows come home, but I don’t think you will last that long, because the water is freezing!
Smile you are on Ponte dei Salti
Stone houses
Perhaps the least talked about part of this town, are the sleepy villages found here. For me, these stone houses dating back to the 13th and 14th century give this pocket of the world its character. Some of these houses have been turned into museums and grottis, ( a grotti is just another fancy name for, small rustic restaurant), where you can sample decadent treats of Tocini. Also on the menu are this canton’s specialties likes polenta and a variety of sausages.
A barn belonging to one of the villagers. When I took a peek inside, I saw bicycles and garden tools.
On the slope of the hill lies the stone houses.
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