Corippo in the picturesque Verzasca Valley was on the brink of being a ghost city with only nine residents. It was revitalized in 2022 by the Albergo Diffuso model, turning historic structures into dispersed hotel rooms.
Corippo doesn’t attract many tourists despite its beautiful location in the Southern Alps. In 2019, the town was just nine elderly residents away from becoming a “ghost town”. Corippo earned the title of the smallest municipal in SwitzerlandAs local officials scrambled in a desperate attempt to save the village, headlines were made.
Corippo is a fairytale-like hamlet located in the Italian-speaking canton Ticino. It has a single narrow road that leads to it. When I visited it in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I didn’t meet a single person while wandering its narrow alleyways lined with stone buildings—typical of the Verzasca Valley where it’s located. This village was almost frozen in time. Only the ringing of clocktowers served to remind you that it’s still a living place.
In 2022, Corippo became Switzerland’s first Albergo Diffuso The concept of the Albergo Diffuso (or widespread hotel) is native to Italy. However, it is still relatively new in Switzerland. Albergo Diffuso is a concept that originated in Italy, but has only recently been introduced to Switzerland.
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Corippo Albergo Diffuso was created by the Fondazione Corippo – a local organisation tasked with maintaining the village – to help boost the local economic situation after many residents moved away. The hotel rooms are located in previously abandoned buildings, which have been carefully restored to bed-and-breakfast-style accommodations.
Jeremy Gehring and Désirée Voitle, managers of the Corippo Albergo Diffuso, now live in Corippo full-time with their son and twin daughters—the youngest residents of the village.
Voitle: “We were listening to the radio when we heard about Albergo Diffuso Corippo and decided that we would apply for the position of management.”
Corippo Albergo Diffuso now has 10 rooms, and is open all year. Its rustic charm is evident in its cozy accommodations. osteria A restaurant that offers gourmet food from the southern part the Alps. The cuisine is Italian with French techniques.
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Voitle is looking forward to welcoming guests. The summer season began here during Easter weekend.
“We want more returning guests.” We hear from most guests that they plan to return. “We want to see more of those guests who actually return,” she said.
The village will not change because it is protected. Albergo Diffuso is a concept that aims to create a hotel within historic buildings with only minimal changes.
Corippo is recorded as having existed for over 700 years. It had 315 residents in 1850. In the 20th Century, as rural agriculture declined and immigration increased, the population steadily decreased. Corippo is starting to recover: Albergo Diffuso has generated renewed interest in this remote mountain village. Dozens of tourists have flocked there to see what’s the buzz about.
You can enjoy a quiet night in Corippo but the Verzasca Valley is worth spending more time. The 25-kilometer glacial Valley offers a variety of outdoor activities including camping, hiking and mountain biking. Ponte dei Salti is a picturesque stone bridge that spans the Verzasca River, and is a popular place to launch a cool swim during a hot summer’s day.
As part of my Verzasca road trip, I stopped at the area where Corippo is located. Dozens of picturesque villages are scattered across the landscape. Verzasca’s jade-colored rivers and waterfalls are sure to make you fall in love.
The area is home to emerald-hued pools, scenic trails with bright alpine flowers, and dreamy grottos—small taverns where you can try Ticino staples like polenta and risotto. Verzasca Dam was a key attraction in the valley that featured prominently in “GoldenEye”, part of the James Bond series. The 220-meter-long bungee leap is a great way to relive Bond’s famous move.
Verzasca offers a relaxed pace of life despite being a hub for adventure. The valley provides a unique blend of outdoor adventure and quiet rural life within easy driving distance of Lugano, southern Switzerland’s largest city.
Desiree said, “We love its beauty,” about Corippo. We enjoy the beauty of the surroundings, including the seasons, the water, the air, the greenery and the calm. “The natural quality of elements without any artifice.”
