Mountain Hike High above Bellinzona to the Monti di Ravecchia

Saturday March 20, 2021 -- Just last week we were down here (further South near Lugano) for the sunshine and a hope of warmer weather. That's why we went again, because all elsewhere it was cold(er).

Our excursion this time had two components: We started the three-hour mountain hike high above Bellinzona only at noon because of the sun direction (and the bus schedule), so we started out with a two-kilometer walk along the main street through Bellinzona to a church whose beautiful paintings (frescoes) I had wanted to see. 

Even along this short stretch there was so much to admire: The beautiful buildings of Bellinzona; magnolias now flowering in full glory (last week they hadn't quite opened yet); the busy Saturday market (normally during this time it is festive carnival, but unfortunately there is no carnival this year). And the beautifully painted interior of the "Santa Maria delle Grazie" church was worth the trip. (Information panels informed us that this -- one of the most beautiful and evocative churches in Canton Ticino, dating from the 15th Century -- was largely destroyed by fire in 1996, but totally restored. During the restoration a colony of bats was discovered in the belfry, the largest bat colony in Ticino).

From here we took a bus via Giubiasco into the Valle Morobbia to one of the highest communities accessed by public transport, and from there we walked North along the mountain flank on real mountain trails, visiting the mountain hamlets named for their city counterparts in the valley below. The best surprise for us was that we descended through the forest on an "unofficial trail" (according to our map) which turned out to be 1.5 kilometers of an old mule trail, totally paved in stones: Magnificent!

And last but not least, due to the Foehn wind effect, the highest mountains in the Swiss Alps far away in Canton Valais were looking really close up this day!

PART I: Two-Kilometer Walk through Bellinzona to "Santa Maria delle Grazie" Church

Before heading out of the main square in Bellinzona, you can see two of Bellinzona's three castles from here. (In the background is the mountain we want to walk on)

Some of the nice buildings in old town Bellinzona, including Castel Grande, which is right in the heart of town.

The first of many fantastic magnolia trees currently in full bloom

A very unusual house, with an interesting winter garden

Lots and lots of magnolias

And one more particularly stunning tree...

It took us about 20 minutes to walk from the train station to the church called "Santa Maria delle Grazie"

There are two sections to this church. On the dividing wall are 15 smaller panels surrounding a larger one, depicting the life of Jesus. A beautiful piece of artwork. There were additional valuable paintings hanging on the walls, but too dark to photograph.

The frescoed wall in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie

Here is what the church looked like after the fire of December 1996. It must have been a devastating loss for the community, but the church has since been totally restored. At least it looks like most of the artwork was left intact. 

Attached to the church is what used to be a Franciscan Monastery. We had a look around their courtyard. 

Here along the gallery were some more impressive works of art. And some tropical plants waiting for warmer weather!

Real lemons, oranges and what look like kumquats!

After visiting the church, we took a bus to Giubiasco and had 10 minutes to transfer, enough time to admire this interesting tree!

And another chapel in the heart of Giubiasco (Santa Maria Assunta)

And we even had time for a quick look inside the church!

Heading into the Morobbia Valley by bus, we get a look up at Monti di Ravecchia, which is the main goal of our hike.

PART II: Three-hour Hike from Paudo to the Montis above Bellinzona

After a 20-minute bus ride along a narrow zigzag road, we got out in Paudo Village at the entrance of the Morobbia Valley. There was an icy wind blowing but we took a moment to admire this view of the Magadino Plain. In the back are the mountains of the Vergeletto and Cento Valli.

Starting in Paudo, we walked North along the mountain flanks, from Monti to Monti (small villages above their counterparts in the valley below). Even though it was 11 a.m, we still had some shady sections.

Here's a look North into the Leventina Valley

Heading off the road onto the mountain trail. It was quite windy and cold!

Look at the size of that chestnut tree!

Heading off to Monti di Ravecchia (a 20-minute climb), and from there to Monti di Arture, and Monti Juri.

Some of our trail was still on the shady side of the hillside

Some of the first colour in this brown landscape!

We made it up to Monti di Ravecchia! A wonderful location for a vacation home. It can be accessed by road as well, so quite convenient

This is usually a place where we would have our picnic lunch, but it was too windy.

So we found a different sunny spot for our picnic, slightly less windy....

This has become our picnic lunch of choice, we have waited almost a year for this Bear Garlic Pasta Salad to show up in the grocery store again! (seasonal)

This cutest little bird "serenaded" us with some peeping. It is called an Eurasian siskin, and is quite a common bird here. 

Another look across the rooftops of Monti di Ravecchia to the Magadino Plain.

A zoomed view of the mountains we can see far in the back, which are most likely in Italy. 

Here are the remains of an avalanche, lots of snow covered in leaves and rocks. You can see where the mass of snow damaged the guard rails. 

From here at Monti Juri we could descend to Bellinzona, but we are doing a detour via Monti di Daro. 

Just below Monti di Daro, from here we're heading down to Bellinzona

On our way down to the valley bottom, this view North along the Ticino River up the Leventina Valley. 

Enjoying the fantastic view up the Leventina Valley. 

For 1.5 kilometers down through the forest, we followed this old mule trail. It was a real surprise, especially as it is no longer part of the official network of hiking trails. But it must have been an important route before the new paved road was built!

Walking along the old mule trail, paved with cobblestones. 

VIDEO:

A short piece of the Mule Trail

 

Imagine the work required to build 1.5 kilometers of this trail!

One section of the forest was full of these pretty purple flowers!

A view of the Castel Grande Fortress in the center of town. This and the other two castles above the city together constitute one of Switzerland's 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

And one final magnificent tree just behind the train station...

Both walks together were about 3.5 hours, 10 km. 

Depiction of our Trail in Google Earth. First walk started at the train station in Bellinzona, 2 km to the Church. The second hike started at Paudo and descended back to the train station after a walk across the mountainside. 

As with most areas around Canton Ticino, we have done a lot of walking in this area!

A week earlier we hiked near Lugano further to the South. This time the hike was near Bellinzona. 

LINKS to other hikes we have done around Bellinzona and Valle Morobbia:

October 2016: Valle Morobbia

April 2019: Castles of Bellinzona and a "Ghost Town" above Ravecchia