Deep Dive
The harsh, rugged nature of the Verzasca Valley has always provided fertile ground for legends and tales during the long winter nights. These oral traditions reflect the farmers’ fears of the unpredictable forces of nature.
One of the region’s best-known mythical figures are the «Crüsc». According to folk belief, these were ugly, malicious goblins who lived in caves high up on the Monti di Mergoscia. Legend has it that these creatures crept into the villagers’ houses under cover of night to steal milk, cheese, and anything edible. In particularly dark versions of the tale, they even abducted unattended infants while the mothers were out gathering wood.
The higher alpine pastures were also shrouded in myth. In ancient times, Alp Cornöv was not regarded as the idyllic goat pasture it is today, but rather as a hostile place full of venomous snakes, thorny scrub, and rocks. The superstitious farmers were firmly convinced that the Devil himself resided in this inhospitable place.
Today, visitors can relive many of these stories along the «Sentiero delle Leggende» (Path of Legends) in the Verzasca Valley.