Rivera to Torricella-Taverne in the Vedeggio Valley just North of Lugano

Sunday February 5, 2023 -- Another one of our "Let's head down south for a walk in the sun to escape the rain and cold in the North" days. At this point we are not really looking for anything special other than to walk on trails we haven't done yet, and to try to get as much sun as possible.

This time we walked low on the west side of the Valle del Vedeggio (the Vedeggio river being a 29-km long river with its source east of Val d'Isone on Monte Camoghè, and which flows into Lago di Lugano at Agno), i.e. at the foot of Monte Tamaro, from Rivera to Toricella, another ca. 12-km hike connecting with other trails which we previously ended at both those places. 

Of course the hike involved visiting lots of churches and small villages, parallel to but higher than the highway (whose noise you could hear, but you get used to it) and there is lots of industry in the valley bottom, but we had several footpaths and forested sections along the way (besides the paved roads) and enough sunshine to make it a good outing. Only drawback was, that there was a cold wind blowing, so not as balmy as the 10-14 degrees predicted. 

Note: This valley is slightly north of Lugano (called the Lugano Pre-Alps) and just south of the Monte Ceneri Pass which connects this region to the Magadino Plain, which we know so well! Despite its name, it is the lowest point between Monte Tamaro and Monte Camoghè.  Also, the villages in this valley are documented back to the 12th Century. 

(For a view of the valley from higher up the mountain flank, look at the photos of the hike we did end of April 2019, photos are HERE.)

From Bellinzona you get a good look at Monte Tamaro, and the Vedeggio Valley where we are doing this day's hike. The pass into the Vedeggio Valley is called Monteceneri.

The magnificent Castel Grande in Bellinzona, at 9:45 a.m.

Our ca. 11-km walk in the Vedeggio Valley from Rivera to Torricella-Taverne. We started at 10:20 and got to the train station in Torricella at 15:20, so again about five hours of mostly sunshine. 

The first small village along the North/South Trail after heading uphill from the Rivera train station is Soresina. Obviously the first thing to do is look into the village church

We saw a sign indicating that the old mill was in this village nearby, so we went to have a look.

Always some cats around the corners...

Heading south now, but a look behind us to the north to the village of Soresina (It is now 11 a.m.)

Our hike was a good mixture of pasture and forest paths as well as paved roads. 

VIDEO:

Springtime birds twittering in the forest

The church from the next village of Capidogno (15 minutes down the trail) was off our trail, so we didn't make the detour to go see it up close. 

A look over the roofs of Capidogno to the industrial complexes in the valley bottom

We walk up and down the alleyways of each village we pass through.

Always the impressive palm trees

Sometimes we run into these community fountains where the citizens used to gather to wash their clothes. In summer these are often filled with water. 

As we continue south, we always have a look behind us as we leave the villages. This was Capidogno, with the church far at the back. 

The next church at Sorencino was locked, so we couldn't go in

On this large open plateau which appeared to be man-made, we found picnic tables for our lunch break. There was a cold wind blowing, so we didn't stay long. Behind Urs is Cima di Medeglia, a summit where we've been twice. Photos from our last hike (March 2022) there can be viewed HERE. 

The trail along the plateau was called the Panorama Trail. On the left is Cima di Medeglia, and on the right is the Isone Valley, through which the Vedeggio River flows. The village up in the valley is Medeglia (first mentioned in documents of 1195!), where we started the hike to Cima di Medeglia a year ago.

A large section on a rocky forest trail on our way to Vira

Village church in Vira.

From Vira it was another 20 minutes to walk to the impressive church in Mezzovico, located on a small hill up ahead. 

From the church grounds in Mezzovico, another look to the north across the roofs of Mezzovico.

Chiesa di Sant'Abbondio in Mezzovico. It has quite an impressive tower. 

I really liked the interior of this church. It was large and open and relatively simple. It reminded me of a Romanesque Church, which it actually was in the 12th century, but at the end of the 16th Century it was enlarged and took Baroque form. 

The view to the altar. Urs is trying to find information about the church. 

Lots of very nice artistic details in this building

Just another 15 minutes down the road (and across a small ravine) was a similar church in Sigirino (This village was first mentioned in documents of 1335)

This is the Oratorio di San Rocco. The building dates back to 1599 but it has had many changes since then, and the current appearance is from the 19th Century. 

Most impressive in this building are the paintings on the ceiling

Nice view past the graveyard at San Rocco

An interesting fresco on an outside wall.

Continuing on through Osignano (where we ended a different hike in 2017 -- photos of that hike and this village can be found HERE, and show a view of the Vedeggio Valley from above.)

There was a small hill along the way before our final destination, and even though it was already in the shade of this mountainside, we enjoyed walking this stretch, because it was protected from the cold wind! It was only a small uphill climb.

Our first view over Torricella as we emerged from the forest. In the back are the very familiar "Denti della Vecchia" mountains, and the region across the river on the other hillside is called the Capriasca, and we have done many walks in that area as well.

One of two churches in Torricella (Chiesetta San Rocco), this one was also locked

We walked the alleyways here as well, discovering lots of small interesting details, such as this tiny renovated house tucked away between some other buildings. 

The second church in Torricella (Chiesa dei Santi Biagio e Maurizio) was open. It had a similar interior style like the one in Mezzovico.

Graveyards here are always so picturesque

Details inside the Church of Sts. Biagio and Maurizio. The building dates back to the 14th Century, although the current structure is from 1586. It is registered in the catalog of historical monuments. 

In particular, fragments of a 15th-Century fresco have come to light. It is interesting that none of the faces have yet been restored. The light through the southern windows created a unique atmosphere

A look back at the lovely church building as we head on our final stretch to the train station (another 25 minutes from here along paved roads through residential areas.)

Near the church and along the regular hiking trail is what looks like a castle. 

Our hike from Rivera to Torricella-Taverne on the Google Satellite Maps. I have marked all the churches and chapels we passed along the route! Also, the other lines are hikes he have done in previous years, in particular in the Capriasca region and the Isone Valley

Location of the Monte Ceneri and Vedeggio Valley regions in Switzerland