What is "valsolda"

Valsolda is a comune (municipality) of about 1,600 inhabitants in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about north of Milan and about north of Como, on the border with Switzerland.

Valsolda consists of the subdivisions of Cressogno, San Mamete, Albogasio, Oria, and Santa Margherita on the shores of Lake Lugano, as well as Loggio, Drano, Puria, Dasio and Castello on the mountains above. It was the set of the works of Antonio Fogazzaro, including Piccolo mondo antico and Malombra; his house in Oria is still visitable. Notable figures from the area include painter Paolo Pagani, architect Pellegrino Tibaldi, writer and journalist Brunella Gasperini, TV anchors Victoria Cabello and Kurt Felix and singer Paola Del Medico.

Valsolda borders the following municipalities: Cadro (Switzerland), Cimadera (Switzerland), Claino con Osteno, Lanzo d'Intelvi, Lugano (Switzerland), Porlezza, Ramponio Verna, Sonvico (Switzerland), Val Rezzo and Villa Luganese (Switzerland).