To the Southernmost Point in Switzerland

July 26, 2017 -- After three weeks of hot, dry weather in the Okanagan Valley in BC, Canada, with a fair share of smoke-filled days from the massive wildfires in the Cariboo and an additional fire much too close to home, I came back to Switzerland to this:

Before heading back to work we had a free day, and our choice to visit the most southern point in Switzerland was based on both getting away from the rain and on something short and simple to get our hiking legs back in gear (and getting over jet lag). 

We did a little 8-km loop along the Swiss/Italian border starting in the little village of Seseglio South of Chiasso, through some small vineyards but mostly through forests. The "Most Southern Point" (Punto estremo Sud della Svizzera) is hidden in a dense forest along an unusual fence of metal posts which would not keep anyone from crossing the border. And if you ask around, most Swiss people won't even know where this place is....
 

An easy 8-km walk around the vineyards of Pedrinate in the Southernmost part of Switzerland

Our hike started in the village of Seseglio

Checking out the menu of the local inn and restaurant. The owner is from Genoa in Italy.

Our walk alternated between vineyards and forests

 

Shortly before reaching the border, this view is across the villages of Italy and back to the Monte Rosa Massif in Switzerland (highest peak of the Swiss Alps)

This unusual fence forms the border between Italy and Switzerland near the Southernmost Point

This unusual fence between Italy and Switzerland will hardly keep anyone out

Urs is walking in Switzerland and I am walking in Italy

This is what it looks like at the southernmost point in Switzerland

Tourist photo at the southernmost point in Switzerland. There's not even a view, it's in the middle of the forest.

Heading back along our loop toward Pedrinate, in the back is a small hill with a church on top, San Stefano, and part of the plan is to go up there for a view North.

 

View North from the vineyards of Pedrinate across Chiasso to Monte Generoso

View North across Chiasso to Monte Generoso

Descending from the hill of San Stefano we return to Seseglio to catch a bus back into the valley

The most Southern Point of Switzerland is among the vineyards of Pedrinate