Corippo: A Charming Swiss Village on the Edge of Abandonment

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Corippo, a small village in Switzerland, is on the verge of becoming a ghost town. Situated in the Verzasca Valley, the village boasts a unique landscape, with small granite houses and a historic church. Following its tourism revitalization, visitors can now stay in the town.

The entire village of Corippo, located 558 meters above sea level, has been designated as part of the Swiss Heritage Site Inventory. It was once renowned for producing flax, which was used in the textile trade.

Records show that Corippo has existed for 700 years and was home to 315 inhabitants in 1850. However, due to the decline in rural farming and increased migration in the 20th century, its population has steadily decreased. Initially, Corippo had only 12 registered residents in July 2018, which dwindled to a mere 9 residents by December 2019. This makes Corippo the smallest municipality in Switzerland.

Corippo Albergo Diffuso Concept

Following the 2022 revitalization through the Albergo Diffuso model, historic buildings were transformed into scattered hotel rooms. This original Italian concept was first implemented in Switzerland. In contrast to traditional hotels, where rooms are located within a single building, the Albergo Diffuso's rooms are spread across the historic buildings in the area. This allows tourists to stay among the residents and enjoy a more authentic atmosphere.

The Fondazione Corippo, a local organization tasked with preserving the village, conceived the Corippo Albergo Diffuso idea to boost the local economy after many residents left the area. The hotel rooms are located in buildings that were previously abandoned, which have been carefully restored into bed-and-breakfast-style accommodations.

Jeremy Gehring and Dsire Voitle, managers of Corippo Albergo Diffuso, now reside in Corippo full-time with their twin children. “We heard about the Albergo Diffuso in Corippo by chance on the radio and decided to apply for the management (position),” Voitle told Travel+Leisure.

Currently, Corippo Albergo Diffuso has 10 rooms for tourists. In addition to comfortable accommodations with rural charm, there is also an on-site osteria, or restaurant, serving delicious dishes. The cooking approach is Italian, but with a touch of French technique.

Voitle anticipates the arrival of visitors during the summer holidays, stating that most tourists who come want to return to Corippo. “We aim to have more return guests. Most guests checking out tell us they want to come back. Some actually do come back, so we want to have more of them,” she said.

Despite the project attracting more tourists, its status as part of the Swiss Heritage Site Inventory cannot be altered. Staying true to the core of the Albergo Diffuso concept means developing hotels in historic buildings with minimal modifications to their original appearance.

Activities in Corippo

Within the village lies the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Carmine (Church of Santa Maria del Carmine). This Catholic church boasts late Baroque style and was renovated at the end of the 18th century with a new facade, a larger bell tower, and an added side chapel, as reported by Together in Switzerland.

Tourists staying in Corippo can enjoy various outdoor activities in the Verzasca Valley. This 25-kilometer glacier valley is ideal for hiking, mountain biking, camping, and picnicking. The valley's authentic charm is enhanced by the Verzasca River, known for its emerald-colored waters. Visitors can swim, explore the gorges, kayak, and even dive.

Just a short drive from Corippo is the Ponte dei Salti, a photogenic stone bridge over the Verzasca River, which also serves as a popular launching point for swimming. For James Bond film enthusiasts, a must-visit is the Verzasca Dam, a major tourist attraction in the valley featured in the opening scene of the film GoldenEye.

Corippo is located 30 minutes from Locarno and 3 hours from Zurich. To reach Corippo, public transportation such as the local bus at Tenero-Contra bus station can be used, with a stop at Corippo, Bivio. This journey takes about 42 minutes. Upon arrival at the bus stop, a short 15-minute walk leads to the village.

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