The Churches of Biasca and the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross)

Saturday March 4, 2023... PART II -- After our two-hour walk in the Blenio Valley from Dongio to Semione (see photos HERE), we took the bus to Biasca to walk up to the Roman bridge behind the train station, a bridge under which the river splits into a double waterfall. We see this waterfall every time we travel this stretch when we head to the southern Ticino (which is very often) and we have long wanted to walk up there. 

Usually in the early morning, this side of the mountain is in shadow, so as we got to Biasca at 3 p.m., we had just the right amount of afternoon sunshine to do the one-hour tour to the bridge and back, and along the way to visit two prominent church buildings which are also visible from the railway line. 

The nearest of the two buildings, San Carlo, is an unusual octagonal structure (construction started in the 1890's as a second church more accessible to the public than the magnificent Romanesque structure further up the hill, but never actually completed), whose interior I didn't like at all.

The majestic Romanesque Church (12th/13th Century) of Saint Peter and Paul on the other hand, is one of the most magnificent church buildings I have visited. There were no benches or pews inside the church, just a large stone interior with a mosaic ceiling and pillars and frescoes on all the walls, (and trapdoors and gravestones in the floor) with a simple stone altar at the front. I couldn't get enough photos....

This winter we have had little snow and rain, especially here in Ticino, so unfortunately there was very little in terms of waterfall, and certainly not a double one. But the walk was pleasant, (almost too warm) and we got back just in time for the 16:21 bus back to Bellinzona.

From the bus stop on the main road, you get a view of both church buildings

Our plan is to have a look at all three historical buildings (on the brown sign). About 25 minutes to the bridge, and another 30 minutes back to the train station. 

The Church of San Carlo is an unusual structure, started in the late 1890's and never fully completed

Information about the Church of San Carlo.

The interior of the San Carlo building was quite unusual, and not to my taste. This is very modern, having been added to in the mid 1900's, although some of the artwork (carving, crucifix) are from the 17th Century. 

A look back at the Church of San Carlo as we head up the stone steps to the Romanesque building

A sign outside the church of Saint Peter and Paul describes the architecture and history of the building in excellent German, except someone didn't notice the wrong spelling of the city of BIASCA!!!! (A link to an English description is HERE).

This beautiful structure is from the 12th Century!! (Restorations took place in the mid 1900's)

An unusual slanted floor leads to the simple stone altar. The tiled ceiling is unusual as well. 

All of the pillars and walls were painted in detailed frescoes

Wall-to-ceiling paintings

Like going to an art museum, but better (no other people....)

Urs looking on the Internet to try to find the age of the building.

Entire walls of frescoes

Intricate artwork in the side bays

Ceiling details, and a balcony I had to check out

Above the main door, a balcony I had to check out

Heading up to the balcony

View of the altar from the balcony

A look at the pillars and side bays from above

From the front of the church, a panorama view over the city of Bellinzona, the Leventina Valley on the left, and the Blenio Valley on the right. 

Information about the Via Crucis

From the bus stop (having come from the Blenio Valley to the North), the trail past the two churches and to the bridge, then back to the train station, was about an hour

The "Way of the Cross" featured 14 such shrines with various artwork. On the way back we took the road below

The roman bridge over the Froda River, which leads to a pool (non-existent at this point) and two waterfalls (also non-existent)

This fellow was enjoying a glass of Champagne at the upper pool

Past the Santa Petronilla Falls, you get a bit of a view down into the valley

Oratory Santa Petronilla... it was locked and we couldn't see into the windows

Lovely mild weather for this hike, at places almost too hot! (Forecast was for 18 degrees).

Heading back across the bridge. Most of the city of Biasca is already in the shadow of the mountains to the west (3:45 p.m.)

That would be me on the bridge! And the city of Biasca below

The blooms on these bushes look like they might be from this year! Also, the view is up the Levetina Valley toward the Gotthard Pass to the north

This family was having fun with a "photo shoot". 

What a beautiful blooming bush! So nice to see some colour in the otherwise brown landscape

Heading down the cobblestone road back to San Carlo

A final look up at the "Chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo"

The bridge and waterfall as seen from the level of the train station below. Usually there are two waterfalls crossing each other, and it looks pretty impressive. But there is too little water this winter. 

Location of Biasca in Switzerland