In the shadow of the Lepontine Alps lies the beautiful Antigorio Valley, one of the seven valleys into which the Ossola Valley is divided. In this spectacular area, rich in natural beauty such as the Uriezzo Gorge and the Toce Waterfall, the memories of the ancient Walser people remain, particularly in the picturesque villages that dot the Antogorio Valley. Crodo is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful mountain villages in the valley, famous for its thermal waters and for the event “I presepi sull’acqua di Crodo” (nativity scenes on the water of Crodo), which every year attracts visitors not only from all over Piedmont but also from all over Italy.
The water cribs of the Ossola Valley
The Advent season is one of the most popular of the year: towns and villages dress up with decorations, lights and traditional celebrations. In the Piedmontese village of Crodo, the event “I presepi sull’acqua di Crodo” (Cribs on the water of Crodo) enchants young and old alike. It is a spectacular open-air exhibition dedicated to cribs, made by local artisans using absolutely natural materials from the Ossola Valley.
The peculiarity of this exhibition is that the cribs are all set up near water sources: they can therefore be found near small waterfalls, bubbling torrents, public wash-houses used in the past by the women of the village or near the many fountains in Crodo and its neighbouring villages.
Visiting the village’s cribs is really exciting for tourists, especially at sunset, when they are illuminated by soft lighting or candles and the rustling of water contributes to creating a truly magical atmosphere, worthy of the most romantic of Christmases.
The right opportunity to visit Crodo
The cribs of Crodo are located along a 15 km long path that starts from the village of Crodo, at an altitude of 500 metres, and arrives at Alpe di Foppiano, at an altitude of 1217 metres. A shuttle bus allows the lazy ones to visit them all, but the lovers of walks can reach them on foot through paths surrounded by nature.
The exhibition “I presepi sull’acqua di Crodo” takes place from 4 December to 9 January 2022 and is the perfect opportunity to get to know Crodo and its hamlets better: for example, it is possible to visit the “Museo Nazionale delle Acque Minerali Carlo Brazzorotto” with thousands of bottles and labels of every shape and colour. In the hamlet of Mozzio, on the other hand, you can discover the 19th-century stone fountains that dot the village or admire the 18th-century frescoes inside the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Vita.
It is then advisable to stop in one of the characteristic local restaurants to taste the typical cuisine, from mountain herbs and baked goods to cold cuts and the inevitable alpine cheeses.
