Giant Chestnut trees in the Maggia Valley

Sunday April 1st:  Easter Sunday hike.... we took a friend with us to the Ticino (my astute uncle recently mentioned we might as well just live there in the winter months) because again, that's where the weather was best. Also there is so much snow in the mountains this year, that this is the only place we can really do mountain hikes.

This time it was a hike from Verscio in the Pedemonte over the hill and into the Maggia Valley. We have done several hikes in this area, but wanted to show it to our friend, who doesn't get down this way a lot.

First a hike up to the Oratorio Sant'Anna for a splendid view over the Maggia Delta at Locarno, then a lunch of home-made porcini mushrooom risotto (disappointingly small portions) at the just-opened-for-the-season Grotto da Rosy, then through the quaint hamlets of Streccia and Dunzio, and then down the very steep and rocky hillside back to the Maggia River. On the way we learned about the Giant Chestnuts, a designation that a chestnut tree gets if its circumference is more than 7m. In Ticino there are 300 such trees, and three of those are along this trail. (Also, these trees are 350-700 years old).

This hike mapped out at just over 9 km and three hours, but it took us four hours.... probably because we had to watch our steps carefully on the steep descent, so typical for this area.

But we were all thrilled because the weather was so great, another successful outing when others are stuck in the rain.

Our hike starts in Verscio, after a short ride in the Centovalli train from Locarno

It's looking like springtime in Verscio

So many palm trees and stone bridges in this area. This is the entrance to the Riei Valley

From below, a zoomed view of the Oratorio above, which is our first destination

It was a warm hike up the hill on this side of the valley (in the back: Intragna and the entrance to the Centovalli)

Finally arrived at the Oratorio Sant'Anna. Took us 40 minutes to hike up from the valley bottom

View toward the Maggia Delta at Locarno (Lago Maggiore)

Looking down on Verscio

From the Oratorio we hiked up the Riei Valley, then over into the Maggia Valley. Between Streccia and Dunzio are the "Giant Chestnut Trees"

Stone is the main building material here

Everywhere stone walls depict property borders, or just make a path look pretty

Stone is the main building material here

At Grotto da Rosy, the owners were just opening for the season, but were still able to make us some Risotto.

All these stone walls and houses are constructed without mortar.

Streccia, the highest point of our tour. From here the trail descends into the Maggia Valley

This is one of three GIANT Chestnut trees in this area. This one is 7.2 m in circumference, and somewhere between 350 and 700 years old.

Some very nice (large!) houses in Dunzio, built in the ticinese style of stone without mortar.

Signs of springtime!

The trail passes right through the arch of the little chapel (Oratorio del Carmelo).

Oratorio del Carmelo high above the Maggia River

These bridges are called Roman bridges, because of the building style

This is the suspension bridge across the Maggia River at Ronchini, where we got back on the bus

The beautiful and wild Maggia Valley

We have done loads of hikes in this area