During this month of March 2020, when we had to do without our beloved hikes in all the remote corners of the country discovering new and wonderful things, I am reminiscing on former excursions, for which I have not yet had time to sort photos and post albums.
So here is an album of pictures from a holiday we took around this time in March 2016, where we spent two days in Canton Ticino (with overnight), the best place in the Spring when the magnolias are blooming. Unfortunately, the Ticino has been hardest hit with this Corona Virus, sharing a border with Lombardy Italy, and where everyone over 65 is currently on 24-hour curfew.... and where they are currently hoping no one from the North comes there for holidays over the Easter Weekend....
March 19, 2016 -- DAY1: From Home to Sessa near Ponte Tresa and the Italian Border.
In the Middle Ages, Sessa was the principal town of the entire Malcantone region. After dropping off our packs and having lunch at our hotel restaurant, we still had plenty of time to do a 3-hour walk around this corner tucked into Italy, walking along the Tresa River which forms the Southern border here, following a trail called "The Vineyard Trail" and reaching the Western border in a community called "Termine", which literally translates to "Border" or "The End". We finished our walk high up on the hill at a local "grotto" which unfortunately was not yet open for dinner (it was 17:30 and the restaurant served food only at 19:00!) so we had something to drink and watched the gorgeous sunset before returning by bus to the hotel.
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| Heading with the small train from Lugano to the western arm of Lake Lugano. At the back is Caslano and the hills where we are spending these two days |
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| A bus ride from Ponte Tresa brings us to our hotel in Sessa |
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| Lunch at the hotel in Sessa. I always try local dishes (in this case Gnocchi) and Urs loves his Cordon Bleu |
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| After lunch, the first stop, as usual, is the village's church, San Martino. As Sessa was the main town in this area in the middle ages, this building is quite old |
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| Entrance to the church is hidden down this old alley |
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| Interior of San Martino Church in Sessa |
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| Medieval village of Sessa |
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| Beautiful Villa |
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| We're always peeking into the pretty private courtyards! |
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| A closer look at a very intriguing courtyard in Sessa |
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| From Sessa we headed down the hill to the Tresa River, which forms the border with Italy, then back up the hill to the western border of this corner of Switzerland, i.e. Termine (=The Border), then instead of returning to Sessa we went back around the hill to Monteggio, from where we watched the sunset and took the bus back to Sessa for the night |
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| On the way down to the river we came across this building which had a very interesting slogan above the main door: |
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| I spent a long time in the Internet to find information about this, but could not find any reference to the United Europe idea originating in this corner of the world |
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| Coffee break down at the Tresa River. On the other side is Italy |
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| Heading back up the hill toward Termine. This was in March but was like a summer day! |
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| Christmas seems to be not quite over yet in Termine |
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| Heading back in the direction of Sessa (another view of the church) we decided to loop around the hill again, because on my map it indicated a Castello (castle), which turned out to be just a small cluster of homes |
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| From this vantage point in "Castello" it was fun to watch the bus manoeuvering the hairpin turns |
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| From Castello, this is a view down the Tresa River eastward toward Lake Lugano |
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| On the main road in Monteggio we saw a sign for a Grotto, which is a restaurant which serves local food. Turns out they weren't serving food for another couple of hours (it was 5:30 p.m.) so we just had something to drink and watched the sunset. |
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| Lovely dusk on Lago Maggiore to the West, with the Italian Alps in the background |
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| Our three-hour 11 km walk around the Sessa area just North of the Tresa River, in the Malcantone area of Ticino |
March 20, 2016 -- DAY2: We caught the bus to Miglieglia, slightly North but also in the Malcantone at the foot of Monte Lema, and starting at the old Church Santo Stefano with its colourful frescoes from the 15th Century, we then walked from one quaint village to the next (about 30 minutes between each) until finally we made it back down to the lake -- a western arm of Lake Lugano -- near Caslano, where we stopped at a pizzeria for some very yummy Tuna and Onion Pizza before heading back to Lugano and home....
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| After getting off the bus in Miglieglia, we first made a detour to Santo Stefano church, before heading South toward the lake |
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| The interior of this church has so many beautiful frescoes |
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| Santo Stefano in Miglieglia |
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| Below the church wall is the old town of Miglieglia |
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| The Church of Santo Stefano at the foot of Monte Lema |
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| From Miglieglia we strolled through forests and several quaint villages back down to the lake, from where we headed back to Lugano |
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| Before heading South, this is a view North to another of the old villages in Malcantone: Breno. It's a village we visited on a separate trip here, where we also started in Miglieglia, but headed North. |
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| The first section of this trail is called "Sentiero delle meraviglie" or "Trail of Marvels", one of which is this very beautiful dry stone wall. |
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| At the bottom of the little gully is the old mill. From here we head up to the first village called Novaggio |
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| Heading through the village of Novaggio |
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| Church in Novaggio. One of few chapels I didn't look into, possibly because it was locked. |
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| After 30 minutes through the forest we reached the next village of Curio... here's a peek into a private courtyard |
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| Community Fountain in Curio |
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| In case you are not sure where you are, this points you to All Directions! |
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| I'm always impressed that people manage to drive down these very narrow alleys |
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| Another pretty villa |
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| Lots of colour in March already! |
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| Church in Curio |
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| A look at the ceiling inside the church in Curio |
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| Heading on to the next village, this is a look back at the town of Curio, which we reached from the right side around the hill |
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| 30 minutes later we reached the next village called Pura. Always the church is the main feature in these villages |
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| A magnificent Magnolia Tree blooming below the church |
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| Heading down through the village of Pura, a look back at the church higher up on the hill |
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| Interesting balconies |
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| Down near the lake in Magliaso, a late 2 p.m. lunch at a pizzeria. This Tuna and Onion pizza was scrumptious |
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| Last stretch along the main road to the train station in Magliaso. I was quite impressed with this building, looks like a half of a house! |
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| A pleasant walk through the Malcantone area of Ticino, from one quaint village to the next |
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| The Malcantone area is to the West of Lake Lugano, at the foot of Monte Lema and tucked into an area along the border with Italy |
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