It's Raining Chestnuts in the Ticino

October 19, 2016 -- After our "home-cooked" meal at the Ristorante della Posta in Russo, we got back on the bus to the starting point of the hike we had mapped out for the day. 

Starting in the little village of Berzona, we walked up the hill to an open clearing with typical Rustico stone homes and fantastic views into two side valleys of the Onsernone Valley. It's to the back of one of these side valleys that we hiked, through neverending chestnut forests... and all around us it was raining chestnuts! I felt like the trees were aiming at us, spiny urchins which then spill those big fat shiny chestnuts, with which I filled my pockets and my backpack! (I will try roasting them at home).

Back out at mouth of the valley we crossed to below the long and windy main road and walked the final 2.5 km along the old road far below the current one, amazingly created who knows how long ago by building up dirt and rock walls along the steep cliffs.

Village of Berzona in the romantic Onsernone Valley

Village of Berzona in the romantic Onsernone Valley

Village of Berzona in the romantic Onsernone Valley

Village of Berzona in the romantic Onsernone Valley

Village of Berzona in the romantic Onsernone Valley

Village of Berzona in the romantic Onsernone Valley

Village of Berzona in the romantic Onsernone Valley

In the clearing called Sella we could see into three different valleys.

There was this random piece of art up here in the little cluster of stone homes. 

Each of these stone homes has its own character.

From here we head through chestnut forests on the left to the cluster of homes in the back (Mulegn)

Hiking through the chestnut forests we get great views into the Onsernone Valley.

Below and across the valley is a clearing that we will hike past on our way back out the valley.

We saw so many of these beautiful but poisonous Fly Amanitas in the forests here.

In the village of Mulegn was this structure with a stone vat that collected the ground water.

At the back of the valley, a side valley to the Onsernone Valley

Little cluster of homes at the back of the Valley (Mulegn).

In the back the village of Loco

This clearing that we had seen from the other side of the valley was a meadow for sheep.

This clearing that we had seen from the other side of the valley was a meadow for sheep.

Zoomed view of the church at Loco, a town perched on the steep hill of the Onsernone Valley.

The trail passes above the village of Auressio. To get to the main road we had to descend steep stairways.

Descending through Auressio, more great views westward down the Onsernone Valley. 

At the church plaza in Auressio, Onsernone Valley.

Below the main road our trail continues along what used to be the main road here.

The old road below is now covered in grass, while the new road winds its way high above. 

Wonderful evening view NW into the Onsernone Valley

At the end of our hike in Cresmino we got this great evening view into the Onsernone Valley. Auressio is the village most in the front, Loco further along, and the valley we hiked is in between.

First we had lunch in Russo, then did a 10 km hike that took us about 3.5 hours. (Berzona to Cresmino).