Claro e il suo Monastero
Overview
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Distance 6 km
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Duration 2 h 20 min
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Ascent 480 m
Intro
The still inhabited St. Maria Assunta convent is situated on a rocky spur above Claro. The walk zigzags up a mule track to the oldest convent in the Ticino, continues to the Cavri hamlet and then a small gravel road winds through chestnut groves down to Claro.
Description
In Claro, right after the Sant'Ambrogio church at the end of the village, begins the trail heading for the St. Maria Assunta Benedictine convent. Hiking along the former mule track is like travelling back in time and at the same time, it is a metaphor of life: sometimes challenging and exhausting, with curves and forks in the road, from the hectic of day-to-day life to peace and tranquillity. As soon as the rock spur is reached, the beauty of the panorama catches the eye: the views across the Riviera and the Bellinzonese region are delightful.
The Benedictine convent S. Maria Assunta is situated on the rocky spur. The striking white building is surrounded by chestnut groves, encompassed by a beautiful landscape and contemplative serenity. Established in 1490 it is the oldest convent in the Ticino. The church is dedicated to the Madonna and was built in 1300. The convent buildings have been restored in recent years. They are still inhabited to this day. A community of about a dozen nuns lives here in seclusion. The interior features three neo-classic altars and murals from the late 15th century. From an artist’s point of view, the Pieta, a group of gilded and painted wooden sculptures located in a side altar from the 15th century, is another highlight. The nuns also sell cookies, honey and other products in the convent.
A small paved road leads further uphill to the hamlet of Cavri. The highest point of the route is reached on a small clearing near the last buildings. From there it turns into a gravel road, going downhill through a chestnut grove. The area is untamed and some of it is rocky. The challenging route ends at the station of a small cable car which goes up to the convent. It is located immediately next to the chapel Sant'Ambrogio, where the uphill route begins. From here we return to the starting point in Claro.
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 |
Claro
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Claro
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| Direction |
Round trip
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| Ascent |
480 m
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| Descent |
480 m
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| Distance |
6 km
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| Duration |
2 h 20 min
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| Duration back |
2 h 20 min
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| Technical requirements |
Medium
|
| Physical requirements |
Medium
|
| Theme |
With panoramic view
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| Signalization |
Signalisation in both directions
|
| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/r... |
Quick Facts
Route number
