OUTDOOR PARADISEThanks to its 4,000kms ofmarked paths and trails thatcriss cross the canton'smountainous terrain, Ticino ismade for outdoor activities.With plenty of lakes and riversthat add to the scenic appeal,an outdoor excursion rangesfrom relaxing walks alonglakeshores to challenging alpinebiking. There are also plenty ofgastronomic and culturalitineraries taking you throughalpine pastures, medievalvillages, vineyards andUNESCO-listed castles.

Hiking, biking and canoeingroutes are compiled bySwitzerlandMobility, whichcoordinates an official routenetwork (both national andregional) that connect withpublic transport. If you have a

Swiss Pass, you can take any form oftransport here, including funiculars, trains,buses and ferries.

HikingTicino has hiking trails to fit all levels ofhikers; there are national routes that stretchover 400kms, to alpine trails and short, easylakeside paths.

One of the easiest and most picturesque isthe hike in the outskirts of Lugano, fromMonte San Salvatore (912m) down to thelakeside village of Morcote.

This 9.3km (3.5 hours) loop trail starts fromLugano, beginning with a funicular train rideup to the mountain and ending with a ferryride back (you can also take the bus). Thismostly-descending trail takes you throughthick chestnut forests, a botanical park, andthe picturesque villages of Carona andMorcote.

From the tallest point at Monte San Salvatore– there is a church at the summit – you can

have a 360º view of Lugano, the lake andmountains beyond. At the village of Carona,the midway point, you can drop by the SanGrato Botanical Park which blooms withazaleas and rhododendrons in spring.

The jewel of this hike is the end destination:Morcote village. Hikers approaching thisvillage will encounter the church of SantaMaria del Sasso, perched against a backdropof the shimmering lake. FeaturingRenaissance frescoes and carvings, thechurch complex also consists of a chapeland a cemetery. The houses in Morcote arebuilt along a steep hill (most streets arestairs), while larger villas (consisting of hotelsand restaurants) line the lakeshore.

You can return to Lugano by bus, or for aunique experience, hop on the local ferry.

CyclingTicino bills itself as a cycling haven, whetheryou’re into road cycling or mountain bikingsingletracks. Bicycles (both mountain androad bikes) can be rented at train stations,and are allowed on trains as well as bike-friendly hotels.

With 175kms of cycling routes and over300km of MTB tracks, there are plenty oftrails to explore. If you like downhill cycling,you can take your bike up to the mountainswith a cable car or funicular. Monte Bré is alovely panoramic terrace accessible via ashort cable car ride, and the descent takesyou through mountain trails in the woodsand quaint villages.

For a relaxing pace, there are also cycling

paths along shores of lakes and rivers. The34km Maggiatal Tour takes you from Locarnoalong the Maggia river and valley (Ticino’slongest), passing Ponte Brolla (a cliff diver’shaven), idyllic rural villages and vineyards.

CanyoningThe Ticino Alps are home not only to lushchestnut forests and rolling mountains –thanks to the natural grinding forces of crystalclear waters that flow through this region,magnificent canyons have been created. TheBoggera Canyon in the Valle di Cresciano isnot only one of the most picturesque inTicino, it's also a premier region for canyoningin Switzerland.

Ranking high in the beauty factor, thanks toits stunning grey gneiss rock formations and

emerald green waters, the Boggera Canyonalso features plenty of jumps, abseils, swimsand slides.

The lower portion is suited to Level 1(beginners) where jumps (up to 10m) areoptional and abseils are up to 25m, whilethe upper Level 4 (for experienced canyoners)portion features a huge number of abseils(up to 45m) and jumps (15m) into narrowfissures with crystal clear pools. Trips lastfrom 2.5 to 6 hours depending on the level.

There are also other canyons in the area,including Malvaglia, Giornico and Iragna. Toparticipate in canyoning, you'll need to berelatively fit (hiking involved) and have nofear of vertigo.

THREE CASTLESSurrounded by mountains, the city ofBellinzona (Ticino's capital) has always beena strategic location between Switzerlandand Italy, and an ideal place to control trafficbetween the two countries ever since theMiddle Ages. This led to the construction ofthe city's landmark castles: Castelgrande,Montebello and Sasso Corbaro. All threecastles are now listed as UNESCO WorldHeritage sites.

The oldest of the three is Castelgrande,which was built in the 13th century (thoughdating as far back as the Neolithic period)on a hill in the centre of town. This extensivecomplex consists of courtyards,watchtowers, residential buildings and aunique curtain wall which is wide enough toaccommodate a grass bank. Looming at50m above the old town, getting to the castleis easy – you can approach it via severalpicturesque steep alleys, or via a lift whichis carved into the base of the hill at PiazzettaDella Valle.

The second oldest castle – Montebello –looms 90m above town across from

Castelgrande, with walls that extend into theold town. Dating from the 14th century, theexternal courtyards are also excellentviewpoints for Lake Maggiore and beyond.The castle can be reached on foot fromPiazza Collegiata or by bus.

The smallest and newest of the three castles,Sasso Corbaro offers amazing views ofBellinzona, Montebello, Castelgrande andover the plain of Magadino and LakeMaggiore thanks to its position 230m abovethe town. Once a prison, it remainsunconnected to the defensive walls. You canget to this castle on foot via a hiking trailnear Bellinzona train station, or by bus.

Situated in sunny southern Switzerland, the canton of Ticino may not ring manybells, but this Italian-speaking region does have plenty of gems up its sleeve.Surrounded by the high Alps and dotted with numerous lakes, its position fardown the train line from Switzerland's major airports (like Zurich and Geneva)helps keep Ticino as the country's best kept secret.

JOURNEYSTHROUGH TICINO

© Bruno Pelladini | Bellinzona Turismo

© Bellinzona Turismo

© Ticino Turismo

19Switzerland

There are a number of panoramic journeysinto Ticino, including the a combination ofrail-and-boat routes of the Wilhelm TellExpress (Lucerne - Lugano) and LakeMaggiore Express (Italy - Locarno), theBernina Express railway (Chur - Lugano)and the post bus route of the Palm Express(St. Moritz - Lugano). For more on the cantonof Ticino, visit www.ticino.ch.