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

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