Hiking to the top of Cima di Medeglia for a view of the Magadino Plain

Sunday March 20, 2022 -- We finally had a chance to do a "mountain hike" again, albeit to a summit we have been to before in 2017 (at that time with substantially clearer view! Photos are HERE) Nevertheless, it was a lovely day to hike up the mountain, and the view was still pretty impressive.

And the best thing about this choice of destination: Even though it is in the very South of the country, it took us exactly TWO hours with public transit to get from our front door to the starting point of our hike in the Isone Valley!  (Transfers via Train/Train/Train/Bus are short, though, so there is no room for delays!). It's nice when we don't have to travel so long.  

Back in 2017 we started at the very back of the Isone Valley and walked along a boring military road to the summit called "Cima di Medeglia", so this time we took a more interesting trail straight up the hill from the village of Medeglia closer to the entrance of the valley. Of course we started with an inspection of the 16th Century village church, San Bartolomeo, which actually contains a part of the early romanesque church (anno 1200) which was originally built here. Some very nice murals and frescoes, which I always like to inspect. 

The descent back to the valley bottom at Rivera was almost exclusively through the forest on the North and West side of the mountain, so not much to photograph. But we were greeted by many patches of crocuses just emerging... so yes, Spring is finally here!

Heading from Rivera Stazione up the Isone Valley we passed many Magnolia trees, the first flowering trees and so beautiful!

First stop: The church in Medeglia, the village where we are starting the hike. The church of San Bartolomeo is presumed to have been originally built in the year 1200, as a smaller church whose entrance forms a part of this larger one which dates from 1585.

For me, it's always the ceilings which I find most fascinating

This beautifully-painted archway was the entrance to the original small Romanesque church built here in about 1200. 

Some more beautifully-painted murals inside the church of San Bartolomeo in Medeglia

Looking West down the Isone Valley toward Monte Tamaro. We started here in the cemetery with a coffee break!

We're heading up to the hamlet called Canedo, then to the summit at Cima di Medeglia (Cima=Summit), and down to Rivera Stazione. All told, a four-hour hike

The section of Trail no.52 which we are planning to walk: Starting in Medeglia, hiking uphill to the summit of Monte Medeglia (Cima = Summit), and down on the other side back to Rivera, from where we had originally taken a bus into the Isone Valley (we were the only passengers, a private ride!)

Starting up the hill through Medeglia

A look down at San Bartolomeo and the cemetery

The trail we are following, from Medeglia over the Summit and down to Rivera is part of the "Sentiero Lago di Lugano", or the "Lake Lugano Trail", a 130-km trail looping around the area of Lake Lugano.

I am so happy for self-serve farm shops like this one... because this morning I forgot to bring along a bottle of water, and there wasn't even a fountain in Medeglia where we started! So thanks to this farm, I was able to get my water, and some cheese as well which we snacked on not long afterwards

After an hour and 15 minutes of uphill climb we reached this charming mountain hamlet called Troggiano. A perfect spot to enjoy the sunshine and a second coffee break

The charming mountain hamlet of Troggiano. The picnic table was ideal for our second coffee break of the day!

Eating the cheese which we bought earlier at the self-service kiosk!

Another self-timed photo

The view we had from our picnic table: This is to the South on the other side of the Isone Valley. The pass is called "Gola di Lago" ("Throat of the Lake), and the mountain range behind it is called "Denti della Vecchia" = "Old Lady's Teeth"

A very cool rock....

An empty house...

On the last stretch toward the summit

The first glimpse of Lago Maggiore to the North

And here we are at the summit, surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Ticino. It took about two hours to get to the summit.

A good place to eat our lunch

Below are the cities of Giubiasco and Bellinzona

Heading down now along trail no.52 toward Rivera Stazione, another approx. 2 hours descent

After about 45 minutes of walking down through the forest we reach another mountain hamlet called "Monti di Prato Grasso", with a stunning panorama view of the Magadino Plain, from Locarno in the West to Bellinzona in the East

VIDEO:

Panorama video of the Magadino Plain

Needless to say, it's another great place for a coffee break!

There are always neat things to see in the forest. And we came across lots of freshly-sprounted crocuses!

The first forest flowers. Spring is here.

Back in 2017 we started in Isone at the very back of the Isone Valley, and walked from there to the summit, then down to Medeglia. This time we started in Medeglia, walked up to the summit, and town to Rivera. 

Where this is in Switzerland, compared to where we live in Zug