Hiking above Monte Carasso near Bellinzona (Ticino)

Saturday December 26, 2020 -- Almost four years ago in March 2016 we discovered a fairly new suspension bridge (completed in May 2015) near Bellinzona, which connects both sunny hillsides of Monte Carasso and Sementina across the Sementina Ravine. At that time we used the cable car to save us an hour's climb, and at that time we also discovered the lovely restored mountain village of Curzùtt (now one of our favourite places) and stumbled across a monument of national importance on the route to the bridge, namely the almost 1000-year-old church of San Bernardo which is totally covered in 15th- to 17th-Century frescoes.

This time we again headed to Monte Carasso for our final (maybe) hike of 2020: Our fourth trip there, having tramped through the forests on both sides of the ravine, always in winter because this is where we can expect sun and no snow. Our intention this time was to avoid the cable car, climb up to San Bernardo, and further up to another mountain village currently being restored to the tune of about 400,000 SFr. On the way we wanted to visit two other nearby churches.... but as it turns out, all three churches, including San Bernardo, were closed.

We didn't go to the suspension bridge this time, but rather looped back down via Curzùtt. Aside of a very cold and biting North wind, we had lots of sunshine and a good work-out on the steep ascent and descent, always a treat at this time of year.

Since I was not able to photograph the frescoes inside San Bernardo for this album, here is a link to the photos of the hike we did in March 2016, which also include photos of the majestic Carasc suspension bridge:  CLICK HERE.

(And on another occasion, in March 2019, when we took the cable car all the way to the top, to Mornera, and walked back and forth across the hillside with nice views over Bellinzona, at that time we passed OVER the village of Curzùtt:  CLICK HERE)

Just ten minutes off the main road (bus stop) and into the Sementina Valley stands this old church: Madonna della Valle. Unfortunately locked at this time of year. But it's a detour I've wanted to do for a long time. For most of the day in winter, though, this valley is in shadow.

Heading back out of the Sementina Valley along the river back to the main road, the second church: Oratorio di SS Trinità stands guard at the valley entrance

As we cross the Sementina River, we get a nice look to the back of the Sementina Valley, and the Oratorio which is actually quite easy to reach. Above it and out of sight, 360m higher up, is the San Bernardo chapel

Heading up to Oratorio SS Trinità and from there steep uphill through the forest to San Bernardo

We started at the bus stop in Sementina and headed into the valley 10 minutes to have a look at Madonna della Valle, then crossed the river and headed uphill to San Bernardo, then the little ruined village currently being rebuilt, and descended again via Curzùtt (Corte di Sotto). A decent hike of about three hours.

Here I am looking disappointed that this church -- Oratorio di SS Trinità -- (a historical monument) is also not open for viewing!

If a church or chapel is locked, I try where possible to take a photo through a window!!! This church is obviously used for Sunday services for the community of Monte Carasso below.

Heading to the valley side of the church for a view

View of the snow-covered peaks of Monte Tamaro and Monte Gambarogno to the South, across the Magadino Plain.

Heading further up the hill. A large portion of our climb was along stone steps such as these, which means you gain height quickly!

Hiking uphill on well-laid stone paths is something I enjoy! This region of Ticino gets lots of sunshine in winter, so great for us to hike when there is no snow.

On the way up we took an unofficial trail to a small hamlet called Tizott, not realizing that we'd pass through again on our way down!

I am always impressed by the beautiful stone-paved roads they have created in these mountain hamlets

Coming along the "unofficial" trail we get a nice view of San Bernardo from slightly below.

Chapel of San Bernardo, origins date to late 11th Century, the inside is completely painted with 15th- to 17th-Century frescoes

The website for the chapel claims it is open from Wednesdays to Sundays, but they forgot to update which months this refers to! Obviously not December, as the chapel was closed. This is the fresco above the main door, which unfortunately has been somewhat marred by 19th-Century graffiti (signatures dated 1753!). The date on the Chapel Lintel is 1582

It was too cold and windy to stop here for lunch, so we decided to continue our climb to the "collapsed" village, currently being restored.

Zoomed view of the collapsed village of Puncète, the highest point of today's hike (680m)

A view over the towns of Bellinzona and Giubiasco and in the Leventina Valley, as well as Val Morobbia

Restoration work in progress. The website for the city of Bellinzona listed this as a special destination for hikes in the area, but technically the building site is off limits (which you discover only once you get here). Lucky for us there was no construction going on (Christmas holidays) so we were able to pass through.

We found a nook protected from the wind to have our picnic lunch here, at the base of the large ruins.

Urs, who is more cautious than I am, was not happy about me climbing this wall for a photo. He was sure it would come tumbling down.

A most lovely path of stones heading down to the renovated village of Curzùtt.

Incredible the amount of work that went into creating these stone-paved trails on these steep, forested hillsides (in earlier times these were chestnut orchards).

A look down on the roofs of Curzùtt

The Monte Carasso - Mornera cable car makes three stops on its way up the mountain. This one at Curzutt is about 1/3rd of the way up.

A quick walk through the handful of houses, then watching the cable car descend from the top of the mountain, before we descend from here

VIDEO:

Monte Carasso Cable Car

A final look at the pretty village of Curzùtt (restorations cost about 6 million Francs!)

What a lovely path from the village to the cable car "station"

Heading back down the mountain, we pass through the tiny hamlet of Tizott for the second time.

Heading down from the hamlet of Tizott. On the way up we came from the left side.

The trail down was steep over stones set up as steps

A look over Bellinzona with its three castles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Zoomed view of Castel Grande, right in the center of Bellinzona

My favourite: Castello di Montebello

The yellow trail is the one we did this day, and the red trail is the hike we did in 2016, where we started at the cable car station in Curzütt and walked over the suspension bridge.

On the way home from the South, this is what it looks like North of the Alps (Lake Lauerzersee)

A close-up shot of the large moon, above Mount Zugerberg, taken from the train window!