Valle di Muggio

Day 1 After the welcome in Capolago, the cogwheel railroad, which at 130 years old is the oldest operating steam railroad in Switzerland, takes you to the summit of Monte Generoso. Back then, in the Belle Époque era, the summit was just as fascinating as today with its incredible panorama. However, today the mountain is one attraction richer with the Fiore di Pietra, Mario Botta's impressive stone flower. After the impressive start, the leisurely hike from Bellavista winds its way through the side valleys of the Valle di Muggio, through forests and across meadows to Roncapiano and Scudellate. The mountain village, which clings to the uppermost slopes of the Muggio Valley, is threatened by emigration. The Albergo Diffuso project is working to counteract this. Overnight accommodation is now offered in various houses scattered throughout the village, which are managed centrally. - A special experience that generates welcome added value. The evening is rounded off with a delicious Ticino "z'Nacht" in the Osteria Manciana. (Walking time without rests: 2.5 h, distance: 6.1 km, ascent/descent: 160/480 altitude meters).

Day 2 Directly from Scudellate, past a roccoli, a bird-catching tower, and along smugglers' paths, today's hike leads across the border into Italy. At the border post, old stories of the cat and mouse game between the carabinieri and contrabandiere are refreshed before the tour loops back into Switzerland to the Passo Bonello. Now follows the descent over a lonely mountain ridge to Cabbio, where the Casa Cotoni stands next to a graa, a typical chestnut-smoking house. It is one of the most important buildings in the valley and is now home to the Museo Etnografico, which introduces visitors to the special world of the Valle di Muggio. And by the way, a gruesome story is told about Cetto, which lies hidden in the forest below this lonely range of hills. A noisy ghost is said to have lived there at the beginning of the 20th century. Nobody can say today what actually happened back then. But the haunting has died down, at least according to the people in the valley. And so it's back to Scudellate on the terrace of the Osteria Manciana, from where you can gaze out over the valley and enjoy a sip of white wine and a slice of Zincarlin, the region's special cheese. (Walking time without rests: 3.30 h, distance: 9.7 km, ascent/descent: 590/830 altitude meters).

Day 3 Today's tour starts in Muggio, the main town in the valley. Incidentally, the name of the village means pile and presumably refers to the appearance of the village, whose houses are piled together like a heap of stones on the hillside. The path continues along the cool course of the Breggia river to the Bruzella mill. It rattles and creaks, the water wheel starts to turn and the mill begins to grind the Rosso del Ticino, the typical red corn as it did in ancient times. Later, the hike ends in the village of Bruzella. At the end, you get on the red bikes from Bike and Wine, old "re-Cycle" bikes that find a second life here and take you through the vineyards down into the valley. Of course, a stop at the cantina, stories from the winegrowers about Merlot and a sip to taste are a must before the tour through the Valle di Muggio ends in Balerna. If you prefer, you can also cover the route by bus instead of by bike. (Walking time without rests: 1.5 h, distance: 3.5 km, ascent/descent: 155/200 altitude meters).