Winter sport destinations in Ticino

The gateway to the South: Here the railway tunnel (inaugurated 1882) and road tunnel (inaugurated 1980) enter the Leventina Valley and lead to Bisaca. Airolo, located at 1141 meters in the southern foothills of the Gotthard Pass, provides access to the Bedretto Valley, from where one gets via the Nufenen Pass to the neighboring Canton of Valais, or via the San Giacomo Pass (hiking trail only) to the Italian Formazza Valley.

Located at the foot of the pyramid-shaped Sosto mountain (2221 meters), Olivone is the starting point for excursions and hiking tours to the impressive Greina Plateau, to the untouched Val di Campo or to the Luzzone Reservoir Lake.

The Blenio Valley in northern Ticino extends from the Lukmanier Pass (1914m) down the valley as far as Biasca. Leontica at the center of the valley is part of the municipality of Acquarossa. A popular excursion destination is the Romanesque church of San Carlo di Negrentino.

Carì is situated on the southern slope of the Leventina Valley above Faido at 1,650m above sea level: an ideal place for sports and nature enthusiasts.

The Leventina is mostly known as a transit axis leading from the Gotthard Mountain to the south. At certain points in the partially narrow valley, where trains, roads and super highway emerge, one does not expect to find scenic beauty and cultural and historic sights - but this assumption is unfair.

Coming from the Valais, emigrants settled in the Middle Ages in the small side valley of the Maggia Valley. These settlers, the Walters, did not traverse the valleys but coming from Pomade (Val Formazza), they crossed the mountains. Bosco Gurin, at 1503 meters the highest mountain village in Ticino, is today one of Switzerland’s most charming villages.