From Palm trees to Alps Excursions to the Maggia Valley, to Cardara to the Verzasca Valley, to Gambarogno and to Brissago The nature and the light of the Ticino lakes and hills region is reminiscent of the Mediterranean. However, the characteristics of the deep Lepontine Valleys are typically alpine: only a few kilometres separate the sub-tropical climate of the Lake Maggiore region from the Nordic climate found at the peaks of the upper Maggia Valley, the palms and aloes of the eternal glaciers at Basodino. Steeped in history and culture, the Maggia Valley (A) and the Verzasca Valley (B) offer a multicoloured landscape and a testimony to the local folk art, customs and dress, and typical mountain architecture which remains untouched. From Cardada (B), a mountain which overhangs Locarno, one can make out Brissago, the Gambarogno and the Bolle di Magadino (B), an area which is a nature preservation area of European interest. It is possible to go up as far as 2000m, take excursions and stay overnight without difficulty in the Robiei region on itinerary A. Departing from Locarno, the Maggia Valley and its villages can be visited easily in one day. Many of the villages in this valley and in the Verzasca Valley are inaccessible and, not many of the buildings have suitable disabled access (www.ftia.ch). Nonetheless the principal cultural sites in Maggia and Cevio are fairly easily accessed. In both of the valleys very few restaurants, hotels and toilets are completely accessible. On the other hand, Cardada (1300m) is perfectly accessible from Orselina with a brand new cable car and offers a chance to take excursions and spend the day without problems. A trail through a marshy area, although sometimes muddy and unsuitable, permits discovery of the untouched flora and fauna and the mouth of Ticino River. Almost all of the proposed itineraries should be undertaken with a companion, and can be reached and visited comfortably by car. From Locarno, itinerary A covers the whole of the Maggia Valley, a valley of granite and marble. Before reaching the valley, make a worthful stop-over in the so called region “Pedemonte” (“on the foot of the mountain”): visit the theatre in Verscio of the famous artist Dimitri. The villages of the Maggia Valley are striking and surrounded by woods of chestnut, beech and birch trees, fields and vineyards. They still have rustic buildings, and there is untouched evidence of popular religion, houses with dry-built stone walls and stone roofs, internal courtyards and wooden balconies. A visit to the church of the Madonna delle Grazie is a must with its numerous frescoes dating back to 500 and a rich collection of ex-voto pictures from 800. At Moghegno there are numerous houses dating back to 600 and 700 with barns and stables still intact. Cevio also merits a stop to visit the Maggia Valley Museum of Folklore, the Pretorio and the bourgeois houses. Before reaching the little alpine lakes of Robiei, cross the Bavona Valley with its extremely steep rock walls, the most closed in and primitive in the Alpine chain. Characteristic features include the cyclopean stony footpaths, and untouched evidence of how a rural civilisation lived in the past. The Lavizzara Valley commences at Bignasco, with the modern church designed by architect Mario Botta at Mogno. Itinerary B visits the Verzasca Valley, view the huge dam which ranks among the highest in Europe, the traditional architecture at Corippo which is of national importance, the famous bridge at Lavertezzo, and the ancient communal oven at Sonogno, as well as immersing oneself in the uncontaminated nature of the area. Cardada it’s a resort which is sunny in both summer and winter and from where one can take in the splendid panorama over the Lake Maggiore basin. Magadino, can be reached by boat from both Locarno and Ascona and is famous for its Organ Festival as well as being the start of an unpaved trail leading to the discovery of the Bolle di Magadino, a wildlife refuge of international importance, and a visit to an agricultural farm. Brissago can be reached also by boat: once landed, take a view to the beautiful testimonials of Baroque and Renaissance era. www.ftia.ch www.vallemaggia.ch www.maggiore.ch www.tenero-tourism.ch www.gambarognoturismo.ch www.ticino-tourism.ch www.marmo.ch www.cardada.ch www.gambarogno.ch www.autopostale.ch/ti www.centovalli.ch www.navigazionelaghi.it

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