The cobbled streets are swept to the corners, as if with Swiss solidity. The 19th century church tower sticks out of the maze of houses like a shepherd from a herd of sheep. And the first Christmas ribbons glisten on the polished windows. Lucia Cassina Piana (78) is busy. “I have to prepare the cribs,” says the widow. She places twigs and figurines in small wall niches. So she doesn’t have much time for a chat, she says.
The elderly woman is one of seven citizens still holding out in Monteviasco (I). Few people will admire the Advent decorations that you have made with so much love. Because the district of the Lombardy municipality of Curiglia seems to have fallen out of the world. On November 12, 2022, it was exactly four years ago that the then cable car operator died during maintenance work. Since then, operations have been halted. If you want to get to Monteviasco from now on, you’ll have to master the 1442 steps that were once heaved quite wildly into the steep forest floor. The difficult donkey path is still the only way to the hamlet.
“Hardly anyone comes up. No craftsmen, few tourists’, says Lucia, ‘I only go to the valley four or five times a year.’ Thank God the angels from neighboring Dumenza (I) are here. On Saturdays, the Carabinieri carry the supplies upstairs, like the Sherpas in Nepal. “If we were a Swiss community, we would have had our cable car back a long time ago,” emphasizes Lucia. And she is also convinced: “The Swiss would like to take us with them.”
Civic group calls for annexation to Switzerland
Two weeks ago, a civic group from Monteviasco published an open letter in the local newspaper “La Prealpina”. She called for the connection to Switzerland so that something could finally happen (Blick reported). “That was a provocation,” explains Lucia, “because of course we can’t just become Swiss.” Although, according to the cheerful pensioner: “Monteviasco used to belong to Switzerland.” In fact, it was Empress Maria Theresa of Austria who redrawn the border with Ticino in the 18th century and awarded Monteviasco to Lombardy. The village is located on the southern slope of the Swiss mountain Gradiccioli. It is only two kilometers from the border. Indemini in Gambarogno TI is in sight, as is Monte Lema, and the southern Ticino Malcantone begins above the ridge.
Barbara Ragazzi (50) and husband Roberto Tosi (52) prepare the village pub for winter. The couple come up the mountain every weekend and offer vino and espresso, and hot meals to order. “We took over the Vecchio Circolo in 2018, seven months before the cable car accident. That was bad luck,” says the Veltlinerin. Yet they persevere because of the guests who have remained loyal to Monteviasco. “I’m a proud Italian,” says Barbara, “but the bureaucracy works much more effectively in Switzerland.” What annoys the landlady: «We are part of an Italian community. The funicular is a means of public transport. It should drive like a normal bus.”
The Prefecture of Varese is now looking for a new manager
Giovanni Prestini (69) remembers that more than 40 people used to live in Monteviasco. The retired surgeon has lived in a mountain house in the village since the 1980s. “There were sometimes three restaurants here,” says the Milanese. “Then more and more people left Monteviasco. The cable car stop gave the village peace.” Now only a few pensioners and a goat farmer would live there. Too bad, because according to Giovanni Prestini: “Monteviasco and its surroundings are beautiful.”
The open letter desiring to be annexed by Switzerland apparently worked. In any case, the prefecture of Varese has now announced that it will tender the management of seven cable car systems by December 31, including the route to Monteviasco. Nora Sahmane (40), mayor of Curiglia, is optimistic: “The operational management of seven cable cars guarantees the survival of the small systems.” Also that of Monteviasco.