Let me tell you about a wonderful hike I did last weekend with a good friend of mine.
The weather didn't look too good, so we decided to go where the weater often is much better than elsewhere: The wonderful Ticino region! We decided to do the Tamaro-Lema pre-Alpine hike - just between Switzerland and Italy and probably one of the most beautiful hikes in the Swiss pre-Alpine region.
We took the train to Bellinzona and then to Rivera. From there, it's only a short walk to the cable cars that brings you up to Alpe Foppa (1530 m).
Up there, we visited the famous chapel Santa Maria degli Angeli, designed by the famous Swiss architect Mario Botta and made out of concrete and porohyryr. Quite impressive! And I admit, I probably would go to church more often if every church had such a view! ;-)
We then started hiking and the sky brightened up more an more. The traverse on the ridgeway from Monte Tamaro (1961 m) to Monte Lema (1624 m) is 13 km long and took us about 5 h. 5 h during which we had a fantastic view: The Lago Maggiore, the Centovalli, the Maggia Valley and Locarno to the north, Lugano to the South, and in the back the snowy mountains of the Alps. I admit I had to ask the peakfinder-app to know what mountains I was looking at, but with a little help of modern technology I was even able to see a little peak of the Matterhorn! ;-)
On the way we saw a lot of goats. Quite a nice place for those animals to be, don't you think?
Once arrived at Monte Lema ( 1624 m) and after a well-deserved ice cream, we started the descent to Astano, which took us about two more hours.
When we finally reached Astano, we couldn't wait to check in in the hotel and jump into the pool. We were so lucky and had picked a wonderful hotel called "Albergo della posta" (--> Link). This hotel exists since 1888 and was the first hotel in the Malcantone region. A wonderful house with simple but very nice rooms, a great pool, a fantastic, sunny veranda and a great breakfast buffet. Highly recommendable!!
We enjoyed our evening in the nice little, old village of Astano. While walking through the streets, we heard music. It came out of a restaurant and we discovered the "Osteria Mena", a hidden, little restaurant with a courtyard where musicians were playing Italian songs that obviously all the guests knew. Everyone was singing along (except us, but this changed after some glasses of red wine...) , some people were dancing and just seemed to enjoy life. The atmosphere on this warm summer evening was just perfect! Evenings are like this (spontaneous, happy, carefree) are just the best ones, don't you think?
The next day, we enjoyed a great breakfast in the garden of the hotel. I almost forgot that I'm still in Switzerland!
Sadly, we had to check out soon afterwards. We did another hike from Astano to Miglieglia and then took the train to Lugano where we walked along the lake and through the beautiful town, before we had to head back home.
What a wonderful weekend! If you are inspired now, here the most important facts you should know...
My tips for this trip:
- The hike: Take the train to Bellinzona, then to Rivera. From there, take the cable car up to Alpe Foppa. Up there, you can do the whole ridgeway to Monte Tamaro and Monte Lema. It will take you about 4,5 - 5 h (13 km).
- Where to sleep: If you're looking for a good hotel, you should definitely try the "Albergo della posta" in Astano, you'll love it (especially its pool!)!!
- Where to eat: If you stay in Astano, make sure you eat a Risotto at "Osteria Mena". If you're lucky, they'll have a little party in the courtyard with live music. But make sure you learn the texts of the Italian folk songs before! ;-)
The weather didn't look too good, so we decided to go where the weater often is much better than elsewhere: The wonderful Ticino region! We decided to do the Tamaro-Lema pre-Alpine hike - just between Switzerland and Italy and probably one of the most beautiful hikes in the Swiss pre-Alpine region.
We took the train to Bellinzona and then to Rivera. From there, it's only a short walk to the cable cars that brings you up to Alpe Foppa (1530 m).
Up there, we visited the famous chapel Santa Maria degli Angeli, designed by the famous Swiss architect Mario Botta and made out of concrete and porohyryr. Quite impressive! And I admit, I probably would go to church more often if every church had such a view! ;-)
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| On top of the Santa Maria degli Angeli chapel. Shouldn't every church have such a view? |
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| The restaurant at Alpe Foppa |
On the way we saw a lot of goats. Quite a nice place for those animals to be, don't you think?
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| Just a goat looking at mountains. Somehow I have the feeling I found my soul animal... :-) |
When we finally reached Astano, we couldn't wait to check in in the hotel and jump into the pool. We were so lucky and had picked a wonderful hotel called "Albergo della posta" (--> Link). This hotel exists since 1888 and was the first hotel in the Malcantone region. A wonderful house with simple but very nice rooms, a great pool, a fantastic, sunny veranda and a great breakfast buffet. Highly recommendable!!
 |
| The little town of Astano |
The next day, we enjoyed a great breakfast in the garden of the hotel. I almost forgot that I'm still in Switzerland!
Sadly, we had to check out soon afterwards. We did another hike from Astano to Miglieglia and then took the train to Lugano where we walked along the lake and through the beautiful town, before we had to head back home.
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| Downtown Lugano |
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| Lago di Lugano |
My tips for this trip:
- The hike: Take the train to Bellinzona, then to Rivera. From there, take the cable car up to Alpe Foppa. Up there, you can do the whole ridgeway to Monte Tamaro and Monte Lema. It will take you about 4,5 - 5 h (13 km).
- Where to sleep: If you're looking for a good hotel, you should definitely try the "Albergo della posta" in Astano, you'll love it (especially its pool!)!!
- Where to eat: If you stay in Astano, make sure you eat a Risotto at "Osteria Mena". If you're lucky, they'll have a little party in the courtyard with live music. But make sure you learn the texts of the Italian folk songs before! ;-)