Riva Valdobbia
Welcome to Riva Valdobbia
Hi everyone! Today I'll take you on a journey to discover Riva Valdobbia, a small municipality located in the high Valsesia, in the province of Vercelli, in Piedmont. I'll tell you about its geography, climate, and history.
Physical Geography
Territory
I'd like to start by telling you where Riva Valdobbia is located. This small village is situated in the Val Grande, the main valley of Valsesia, between Mollia and Alagna Valsesia. It's a very interesting place for tourists, as it has a cross-country skiing ring. If you love nature, Riva Valdobbia is the perfect destination for you.
Have you ever wondered where the southeast wall of Monte Rosa is? It's right in Riva Valdobbia! You can admire it in all its majesty, but be careful because it's not visible from Alagna Valsesia.
To the west of Riva Valdobbia lies the beautiful Val Vogna, a lateral valley that connects Riva Valdobbia with Gressoney-Saint-Jean through the Valdobbia pass. On the pass is the Ospizio Sottile refuge, which I recommend visiting if you're interested in history. It was built in the 19th century to provide shelter for travelers who crossed the valley to work abroad, especially in France. The refuge has undergone recent renovation and is beautiful.
Climate
The climate of Riva Valdobbia is typical of the alpine zone. In summer the temperatures are mild, while in winter it can be very cold. If you decide to visit this municipality in the dead of winter, remember to bring warm and cold-resistant clothing.
Origin of the Name
Let's now talk about the origin of the name Riva Valdobbia. The name 'Riva' derives from the location of the town center on the edge of the moraine terrace that plunges into the confluence between the Sesia and the Vogna. The term 'Valdobbia', on the other hand, taken from the homonymous pass, has offered inspiration for various interpretations.
According to popular belief, the term 'Valdobbia' means 'going to obbia', which in the local dialect means looking out for relatives. This theory is also supported by Federico Tonetti.
Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, instead, proposed 'Val Doppia' due to its assonance with the French 'doubler', which makes it possible to cross the watershed between Valsesia and the Valle del Lys. Finally, Amé Gorret supposed that it was 'Val Dubbia', as it was contested by the settlers of the communities of Gressoney and Valsesiane with varying fortunes.
History
Finally, I'd like to talk about the history of Riva Valdobbia. This village was founded by groups of Walser settlers from Gressoney-Saint-Jean. The Peccia hamlet was already inhabited in 1325.
The pass road was frequented by people who went to work abroad, especially in France. The frequent mishaps that befell the immigrants led to the construction of a first provisional refuge, which was later replaced by the Ospizio Sottile, dedicated to the canon Nicolao Sottile who was one of its promoters.
In a document that assigns the lands beyond the pass that is reached by passing through 'Verdobi', the current Òbrò Verdebiò, one can trace the root of the name 'Valdobbia'.
And so, our journey to discover Riva Valdobbia comes to an end. I hope I've piqued your curiosity and made you want to visit this small municipality surrounded by nature. Don't forget to bring with you the desire to discover new places and the love for our beautiful country!
