The Bocchetta di Margosio between nature and history

What is the Bocchetta di Margosio?

The Bocchetta di Margosio is a picturesque mountain pass located at just over 1300 meters above sea level, in the heart of the Oasi Zegna, among the Biellese mountains of Piedmont. From this panoramic point, a spectacular view opens up over the Valsessera and the majestic Monte Rosa, the second highest mountain in Europe at 4,634 meters. The term "bocchetta" refers to a crossing or passage between two valleys, and in the past, these strategic points were used for transhumance, the seasonal transfer of livestock to summer pastures at high altitude. The Bocchetta di Margosio represented one of these crucial passages to reach the wild and green Valsessera, a valley that still preserves its authentic and unspoiled appearance today.

What is the origin of the name "Margosio"?

The name of the pass derives from Alpe Margosio, an ancient alpine pasture located on the northern slope of the pass. In the past, this place was not only a dairy farm where animals were taken to graze, but also a mountain refuge and a popular destination for Sunday excursions among employees of the Lanificio Zegna in the 1930s. During that time, the wool mill promoted contact with nature as a form of well-being and sociality for its workers. Company outings to Alpe Margosio were an opportunity to breathe fresh air, walk, and share moments of serenity in a landscape that united mountain and community.

What view can you admire from the Bocchetta di Margosio?

The view from the Bocchetta di Margosio is among the most beautiful in the Oasi Zegna. From here, the gaze embraces the Valsessera, with its dense woods, pastures, and streams flowing down to the valley, and stretches all the way to Monte Rosa, which dominates the horizon with its unmistakable silhouette. On clear days, the sight is simply breathtaking: the snow-capped peaks of Rosa seem suspended between sky and earth, while the Valsessera appears like a green sea, dotted with huts and alpine pastures. To the south, however, the landscape changes completely, becoming gentler and marked by human presence, with villages, roads, and crops that testify to centuries of mountain life.

What is the role of the Zegna Panoramic Road?

The Zegna Panoramic Road is one of the most important works created thanks to the vision of Ermenegildo Zegna, the textile entrepreneur who, in the last century, decided to enhance the Biella territory. This panoramic road, about 26 km long, connects Trivero to Bielmonte, crossing spectacular landscapes and providing access to numerous viewpoints, refuges, and trails. The Zegna Panoramic Road can be considered a "hinge" between the anthropized world and the natural one: on one side, the territory linked to industrial history and community life; on the other, the wild and silent valleys of Valsessera. The Bocchetta di Margosio is located right along this ideal boundary, representing a meeting point between the historical memory of human labor and the grandeur of alpine nature.

How to reach the Bocchetta di Margosio?

To reach the Bocchetta di Margosio, you can start from various points in the Oasi Zegna. The most common route starts from Bocchetto di Sessera (1370 m), along the Zegna Panoramic Road, where you take a well-marked hiking trail that leads to the pass in about an hour of walking. The route is suitable for everyone, as long as you wear hiking boots and bring a water bottle, since there are no fountains along the way. The trail crosses beech and larch woods, flowering meadows, and viewpoints that invite you to stop and admire the landscape. Alternatively, the Bocchetta can also be reached from other trails in the Oasi Zegna, such as those starting from Bielmonte or Alpe Artignaga, offering longer but equally scenic itineraries.

What is the peculiarity of Valsessera as seen from the Bocchetta?

The Valsessera is a unique valley, wild and little anthropized. Unlike many other alpine valleys, human presence has been limited over time, and even today, woods and pastures dominate the landscape. From a naturalistic point of view, the valley is a true treasure trove of biodiversity: you can encounter deer, roe deer, golden eagles, and a wide variety of alpine flowers, including rhododendrons, arnica, and gentians. Seen from the Bocchetta di Margosio, the Valsessera appears in all its grandeur and isolation: a place that preserves the rhythms of the mountain intact and invites you to rediscover a more authentic relationship with nature.

What does Alpe Margosio represent today?

Alpe Margosio is still a place of great charm today. Although it has lost its original function as a dairy farm, it continues to be a reference point for hikers and mountain lovers. During the summer, the meadows surrounding the alpine pasture are populated by hikers who choose this spot as a destination or intermediate stop for longer hikes towards Valsessera or Monte Marca. Its history, linked to the Sunday outings of the Zegna after-work, testifies to a time when the relationship between industry and nature was lived harmoniously, uniting work, well-being, and territory.

What to see around the Bocchetta di Margosio?

In the surroundings, there are several points of interest that deserve a stop: * Bielmonte, the tourist resort of the Oasi Zegna, offers restaurants, refuges, and panoramic trails. * The Conca dei Rododendri, a natural garden wanted by Ermenegildo Zegna, famous for its spring bloom. * The Rifugio Monte Marca, reachable by cable car, from which you can enjoy an exceptional view of the Alps. * The paths of the Nordic Walking Park and the hiking trails that branch out throughout the Oasi. Each point offers an opportunity to discover a different aspect of this generous and welcoming mountain.

Why visit the Bocchetta di Margosio?

Visiting the Bocchetta di Margosio means immersing yourself in a place that encompasses the history, nature, and spirit of the Oasi Zegna. It is a point where the past and present meet: the transhumance paths coexist with modern panoramic roads, and the silence of the mountain recalls the simple life of a time. It is a perfect destination for a summer trip, for those who love walking and admiring high-altitude views without facing excessive elevation changes. And above all, it is one of those places that gives the feeling of space and freedom, with the majesty of Monte Rosa providing a backdrop to a landscape that enchants in every season.