The Three Castles of Bellinzona

(This post created and published on February 25, 2025)

Saturday April 11, 2015 – When we travel South of the Gotthard Tunnel to Lugano or Locarno (or Milano) we always pass through Bellinzona, where you get a glimpse of the great stone castles, since 2000 a Unesco World Heritage Site. In fact, on the way to Lugano the train actually passes UNDER one of the castles. So I always wanted to go see the three castles of Bellinzona, and we decided to do this on this Saturday. 

The largest castle, Castel Grande, is located in the old town of Bellinzona, and easy to reach, but the nicest of the three (Montebello) is a little higher on the hillside. The smallest (Sasso Corbaro) is a one-hour walk uphill. So we started with the top one, walking the one hour up the steep hillside via cobblestone steps through the small town of Artore. From there we got a great view of the other two massive castles, with their connecting fortified walls which encompass a large part of the old town Bellinzona. We walked down to Montebello, and then to Castelgrande, about 6 km in all. Very impressive. The sense of “being there”, a long long time ago. 

The castles have dominated this strategic location since the Roman Times, but especially after the 4th century when the fortresses were built to protect Northern Italy from invading Allemanic tribes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Castles_of_Bellinzona

As seen from Castel Grande at the end of our hike, this is the view down to the old part of the city of Bellinzona, and the approximate route we hiked: First to the yellow church in Artore, then to Castello di Sasso Corbaro at the top of the hill, then down to Montebello and into the town to the large church Chiesa Collegiata dei SS. Pietro e Stefano, and then up to Castel Grande, which is on a  hill in the middle of Bellinzona. 

From the Bellinzona train station it is about 30 minutes to reach Artore, and from there another 20 minutes to the first of the three castles we want to visit: Castello di Sasso Corbaro. We started at 11:35

All kinds of cute houses in this part of Switzerland. 

Heading up the stone steps to the yellow church in Artore, which we always see from the train station in Bellinzona. 

Chiesa di San Sebastiano in Artore above Bellinzona. 

Taking a break at the walls around the church in Artore, with a view down to Bellinzona and the mountains at the junction with the Mesocco Valley. We got here at noon, so it took us 25 minutes to walk up to here. 

View down to the Ticino River and the Riviera Valley. 

Down below us we can see the other two Bellinzona castles: Montebello on the left, and Castel Grande on the right. 

After a 15-minute break enjoying the views from the San Sebastiano church in Artore, we continued on our hike at 12:15. 

It's not a very long or difficult walk to the three castles in Bellinzona. Strictly speaking, two hours and 6 kilometers. But we took our time admiring the castles and views, and got back to the train station at about 3:45 p.m. So we spent about four hours here, first walking up the mountain to Castello di Sasso Corbaro, then down to Castello di Montebello, and then via old-town Bellinzona to Castel Grande, before returning to the train station. 

Up ahead of us (past several vineyards) we can see Castello di Sasso Corbaro, where we are now headed. 

First leaves and blossoms this spring! It's nice to see the countryside turn green again. 

Heading up more stone steps to the vehicle road. 

This lovely bird is called a Eurasian Jay. (It makes a lot of noise, though!)

Approaching Sasso Corbaro Castle from the east side. The weird inflated white plastic balloon on the right side is part of a current art exhibition at the castle. We got here at 12:35, exactly 20 minutes from Artore. 

We had a look inside the castle courtyard, but didn't go into the castle itself, as you have to pay entrance fee, and we didn't want to see the art exhibition. 

From the castle walls, a bit of a different view of the other two castles: Castel Grande on the left, and Montebello slightly hidden at the bottom right. The old part of Bellinzona city is in the gorge below Castel Grande. 

And this beautiful view is over the Magadino Basin. You can just make out Lago Maggiore in the back. 

Heading down from the Sasso Corbaro Castle now to go to Montebello. It's now 1 p.m. which means we spent about 20-25 minutes here. 

As we head back down the mountain, we can see the church in Artore, where we took a break earlier. 

Close-up view of San Sebastiano in Artore. 

And this is the first really good look at the fabulous Montebello Castle.

What a magnificent structure

Heading into the castle compound. It took us about 20 minutes to walk down to here. 

Inside the castle compound. There is an entry fee into the buildings themselves, which is some sort of museum, but we did not go inside. 

It WAS possible to walk up onto the ramparts on the castle walls, so we had a good look around there. Of particular interest is the way the main gate (drawbridge) is operated by the counterweights on the wooden frame. 

On the ramparts of the Montebello Castle. 

Past the fortified walls of the Montebello Castle, we can see Castel Grande on the other side of old town Bellinzona. 

We found a stone table tucked into the castle wall: A good place for a late lunch break at 13:45!

A view of Castel Grande and the roofs of Old Town Bellinzona viewed from between the crenelations of the castle walls. 

A closer look at Castel Grande where we are headed next. 

Enjoying the mild spring weather on the grounds of the Montebello Castle. We spent about 45 minutes here on the castle grounds. 

Above us is the Sasso Corbaro Castle, where we descended from. 

Shortly after 2 p.m. we headed down from Montebello into old-town Bellinzona. 

The train line goes through a tunnel under the castle. The palm trees give this region a Mediterranean flair. The castle walls go all the way down into the town and over to the other castle.

Descending into Old Town Bellinzona. The large church here is called Chiesa Collegiata dei SS. Pietro e Stefano. According to Wikipedia (translated), it is a Renaissance building with Baroque details. The building...houses numerous works of art dating back to a period between the 15th and 19th centuries. Among these there are the large stoup (holy water basin) known as Fontana Trivulzio, dating back to 1465, and an organ whose original nucleus dates back to 1588.   

Through an alleyway we reach the main pedestrian street within Bellinzona, with Castel Grande looming overhead. 

Main street in front of the Collegiate Church of Saints Peter and Stephen. 

In the streets of Old Town Bellinzona. 

We then had a look into the courtyard of the Palazzo Civico (Town Hall), it was quite impressive with its many arches. This is not a very old building, built between 1924 and 1926, and inaugurated in 1929.

And now we are headed to the defense walls of the Castel Grande, approaching from the West.  

The gateway entrance to the Castel Grande via the battlements. 

From here we can see both the Castello di Montebello and the San Sebastiano church in Artore. 

The tower in the center belongs to the Town Hall (Palazzo Civico), and the view is toward the Morobbia Valley. 

Another view of the Collegiate Church with Montebello behind it. 

Heading up the long staircase onto the Castle grounds. 

Kids playing..... As far as the three castles go, Montebello was definitely the most interesting. 

Around the grounds of Castelgrande

View north across Bellinzona toward the junction of two valleys: Riviera Valley on the left leads northwards toward Biasca and then the Gotthard Masif, and on the right is the Mesocco Valley, which leads first to the west, then the north to the San Bernardino Pass. 

We spent about an hour here on the grounds of the castle enjoying some sunshine (along with many other people) before heading back to the train station. 

Photo on the grounds of Castelgrande Castle, with both Montebello and Sasso Carbaro in the background. 

Panorama view of Old Town Bellinzona and Castello di Montebello (you can see the battlement walls come all the way down into the city) and Castello di Sasso Corbaro atop the small hill. 

At 15:40 we were back down in the city and on our way to the train station. 

What our little round tour walk looks like on Google Satellite Maps.