ViaGottardo
Overview
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Distance 23 km
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Duration 7 h 35 min
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Ascent 1250 m
Intro
An undulating route between the Isonetal valley and Gola di Lago before the Capriasca region. Nature rules here on the pass from Sopra- to Sottoceneri, where forests alternate with pastureland. Tesserete is reached along old tracks and pack-animal trails.
Description
Bellinzona is probably Switzerland's most Italian city. Three massive medieval castles dominate the townscape and tell the story of an embattled city. This is because of the city's strategic location in a narrow valley on the way to the Alpine passes of Gotthard, San Bernardino and Lukmanier. Today, modern life flourishes in what is culturally a well-preserved Lombardy town.
From the Bellinzona railway station, the route leads down to the Ticino. Following the leafy river banks, you reach Giubiasco. On the outskirts of town lies the wooded Motto Grande Park with a large playground and biotope. After that, the populated area changes into a secluded, natural environment.
A delightful trail leads steeply uphill through the forest to Cima di Dentro at an altitude of 1,000 metres. From here, a path paved in places with natural stones leads through pristine birch forests and between rocks down to Isone, where the Swiss army trains grenadiers and parachute reconnaissance forces.
After leaving the village, the route leads uphill again. Small bridges cross over several streams. Until Muricce, the trail is steep in parts and then climbs steadily up to Gola di Lago. Here, the two national routes of the Trans Swiss Trail and the Via Gottardo separate for a short while. Along with Brolla, Indemini, Mezzovico and Gandria, the pass formed a defensive line during the Second World War.
After about six hours of hiking, there's one last descent of just over an hour. In parts, a stream and dry stone walls line the beautiful trail. After Odogno, the trail crosses a road, and soon you are in Tesserete, the destination of this long stage. Visible from afar is the imposing parish church of Santo Stefano with its Romanesque bell tower. Towards the east, there are beautiful views of the Denti della Vecchia, a mountain range reminiscent of the rock formation in the Dolomites.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Bellinzona
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Tesserete
|
| Direction |
One way
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| Ascent |
1250 m
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| Descent |
950 m
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| Distance |
23 km
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| Duration |
7 h 35 min
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| Duration back |
7 h 10 min
|
| Technical requirements |
Medium
|
| Physical requirements |
Difficult
|
| Season |
March - October
|
| Theme |
Over a pass
|
| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/r... |
Quick Facts
Route number
