Domodossola

About

First settled by the Romans, the town was destined to be an important religious sout when its name means ‘capital with the main church of the area’. Napoleon’s 1805 undertaking to build a road across Simplon pass, and the opening of the railway a century later made this historic border town a junction between Italy and Switzerland. In the medieval town centre, the Piazza Mercato is lined with historic buildings, such as the Teatro Galletti. The 14th century Palazzo Silva, ornamented with local marble, is now a museum displaying Etruscan and Roman artefacts, as well as fragments of Egyptian mummies. However, if you can only see one thing in Domodossola, make it the Sacro Monte del Calvario. Built by Capuchin monks in 1657, the 12 chapels of this baroque complex illustrate the Passion of Christ.