One of the highest waterfalls in the Alps
At the top of the Val Formazza, the northernmost valley of Piedmont, wedged between Switzerland, at about 1,700 metres, the river Toce plunges over a rocky step with a jump of about 143 metres, forming the Cascata del Toce, one of the highest and most spectacular waterfalls in the Alps. The water does not fall vertically, but spreads out over the granite rock in a wide white fan, about sixty metres wide at the base, foaming and roaring, creating rainbows in the sun and clouds of spray. Already in the nineteenth century it was a famous destination of the "Grand Tour" of the Alps, and it was admired by writers and travellers; Gabriele D'Annunzio described it.
Since the twentieth century, the waters of the Toce have been exploited for hydroelectric production, with dams and artificial lakes in the upper valley, and for this reason the waterfall flows at full capacity only on certain days of the year: during the summer months, from June to September, the water is released according to a schedule published every year, usually on weekends and in August, while on the other days the jump is only a thin veil. At the top of the waterfall, on the edge of the jump, stands the historic Albergo Cascata del Toce, built in 1863, with a terrace overlooking the void. Val Formazza is also a Walser valley, with villages of wooden houses, alpine lakes and trails, and in winter cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Tip: check the official calendar of the opening of the waterfall before you go; the best view is from the road below, from the bridge and the viewpoint.
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