Book «Natural escapes – Ticino», sample pages: Riviera

Riviera
The mountain streams here
have carved out the most
beautiful sheer gorges in Ticino.
One waterfall pool flows into
the next. However, the region
also features a few peaceful
beaches on riverbanks.
29

i
N
0
5 km
Leventina,
see p. 11
Ticino
Riviera
A2 44
Biasca
BIASCA
10. Biasca: Cascate di Santa Petronilla
11. Iragna: Pozz Borgh
12. Osogna: Pozzon
13. Osogna: Boggera
14. Lodrino: Pozz Cavai
15. Moleno
16. Preonzo: Laghetto di Mezzodolmo
17. Preonzo: on the Ticino
18. Gnosca: Spiaggetta alla Passerella
19. Castione: on the Moesa
R i v
Iragna
Lodrino
Prosito
A2
Moleno
Osogna
Cresciano
Preonzo
e
Claro
r
A2
a
Gnosca
A2
45
Bellinzona-Nord
Castione
Arbedo
A13
Moesa
Ticino
About the region
Bellinzonese e Alto Ticino Turismo:
www.bellinzonese-altoticino.ch > Biasca e Riviera
Tel. +41 (0)91 869 15 33
I Biasca: at the village centre next to Bank BPS,
K 46.36018 8.97116, b Biasca, Municipio
Piano di Magadino,
see p. 71
BELLINZONA
30

10 11 12
13 14
Riviera
15 16
17 18 19
31

SWIMMING & CYCLING
Combined Adventures
Bellinzona _ Biasca (up the valley, level), 2 h 30 min (26 km):
Here, for the most part, the Swiss national cycling route 3 (North-South Route,
marked) runs along side roads and cycle paths. You can take short detours to reach
these swimming spots: Bellinzona 31, 30 and 29, Castione 19, Preonzo 16 and 17,
Moleno 15, Lodrino 14, Iragna 11 and Santa Petronilla (above Biasca) 10.
Bicycle rental in Bellinzona at Rentabike (tel. +41 (0)91 243 09 78), and
Velospot; see also p. 263. Rental in Biasca at Cicli Wittwer (www.cicliwittwer.ch,
tel. +41 (0)91 862 15 16)
SWIMMING & BUS TOUR
In the Riviera, it’s really fun to hop, skip and jump from one swimming spot to
another because the sites are all so different. Take the bus for the most relaxed
experience.
Western Riviera, Biasca _ Bellinzona (down the valley), 1 day:
The first destination on the hop-on/hop-off bus tour are the pools at Santa Petronilla
near Biasca 10. From back down in the village, take the Line 193 bus from
b Biasca, Stazione towards “Bellinzona” (hourly, 46 min total travel time to the
final destination b Bellinzona, Piazzale Stazione). On the way, you can hop off the
bus at some of the following stops and jump into the water: b Iragna (see 11), b Lodrino,
Paese (see 14), b Moleno (see 15), b Preonzo, Nord (see 16 and 17), b Gnosca,
Centro (see 18), b Gorduno, Alla Rivetta (see 30, follow the right bank downstream
400 m through the woods to a parking area, then a little further through the trees)
and b Bellinzona, Bivio Galbisio (see 31, follow the road 150 m down the valley,
then refer to the directions starting at P). In Bellinzona, a visit to the pretty old
town with its three castles is well worthwhile (see also 31, Tip).
Eastern Riviera, Bellinzona _ Biasca (up the valley), 1 to 2 days:
Another great bus tour of swimming spots. First, head to Bellinzona (see also 31,
Tip) and explore the city. Then take the Line 191 bus from b Bellinzona, Stazione
towards “Airolo” (hourly, 33 min total travel time to final destination b Biasca,
Stazione). You can interrupt your journey for a swim by hopping off at some of the
following stops: b Arbedo, Molinazzo (see 29 and 30), b Castione, Stazione (see 19),
b Cresciano, Stazione (see 13), b Osogna, Paese (see 12) and b Biasca, Stazione
(see 10). Cresciano is a good place to spend the night (see 13, Tip).
You can take the same bus line to continue the tour of swimming spots up into
Valle Leventina, with stops at b Giornico, Parondino (see 6) and b Chiggiogna, Paese
(see 4, Tip). For other stations see p. 14, second Combined Adventure.
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10. Biasca: Cascate di Santa Petronilla
Spots to relax Space to swim Water temp. 10:30 _ 19:30
The public baths of Biasca: the stream Ri della Froda has sculpted seven pools out of
the cliff above the train station. During periods of hot summer weather, the water warms
up to a comfortable 22 °C. An old stone bridge spans the waterfall that flows into the
largest pool (main pool, B). Next to the bridge is a chapel devoted to St. Petronilla, an
early Christian martyr.
Riviera
Main pool of the Cascate di Santa Petronilla above Biasca
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Chapel pool
Above the main pool, within an elevation
change of 240 metres, you can access are
six other pools of the Ri della Froda:
Chapel pool
(5 min above the main pool)
At the same elevation as the chapel, this popular
waterfall pool features rock ledges. The section
of the stream below the pool is a good place for
children to play. Go up to the stone bridge and
then a little further upstream.
Channel pool
(10 min above the main pool)
Waterfall pool with a historic wooden water
channel between high cliffs. Follow the mountain
path that starts at the chapel upstream on
the left bank. As soon as you see a high, narrow
waterfall, leave the path and turn onto a trail.
Balcony pool
(15 min above the main pool)
Small pool at an exposed edge with a view across
the Riviera valley. You can climb up to two
other pools behind it to find a waterfall about
6 metres high. At the fork in the mountain path
on the left bank, keep going in the direction of
the stream.
Channel pool
Balcony pool >
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Climbing pool
(! 20 min above the main pool)
Deep waterfall pool in the shade with rock
ledges at the edge. At the turn in the mountain
path where there is a stone slab about 1.5 metres
high with a red-and-white trail sign, go straight.
Then climb down to the cliff edge where there
is a distinctive tree with two trunks. From there,
continue to the pool.
Green pool (25 min above the main pool)
Small pool with a waterfall and smooth, rounded
stone banks. Follow the mountain path uphill
for about 20 minutes. At the foot of a rock formation
that is about 5 metres high and 15 metres
wide, take the trampled path that branches
off to the left down to the stream.
Grande Cascata
(30 min above the main pool)
The spray of a 100-metre waterfall rises as mist.
The pool is thigh-deep and there are some spots
to relax on the flat boulders. Follow the mountain
path up to the right turn following the rock
formation described above (see “Green pool”).
From here you can already see the waterfall. To
get there, follow the trampled path.
Tips
Colourful frescoes: A little way above the
series of Stations of the Cross mentioned in
the directions is the Romanesque Church of
the Saints Peter and Paul (Chiesa dei Santi
Pietro e Paolo) with its enormous, gorgeous
wall and ceiling frescoes dating from the
13th through 17th centuries.
Grotto paradise: At the foot of the hill 2 kilometres
north of the Biasca train station, beneath
shady trees, is the town’s entertainment
district: r Grotto Pini (www.igrot.ch > Search
term: Pini, tel. +41 (0)91 862 12 21), r Grotto
Lino (www.igrot.ch > Search term: Lino,
tel. +41 (0)91 862 45 47), r Grotto del Mulo
(tel. +41 (0)91 862 14 23) and r Grotto Petronilla
(www.igrot.ch > Search term: Petronilla,
tel. +41 (0)91 862 39 29). From the Biasca train
station, follow the main road 1.6 kilometres
north, then turn right towards the grottoes
(signposted), P 46.36639 8.97488. On foot,
follow the series of Stations of the Cross to
the church described above, then follow the
trail (25 min). From b Biasca, Grotti the bus
takes you directly back to the train station.
PT > z Biasca > f 30 min
f Walk north to the Coop supermarket. Take
the bridge over the railway tracks and follow
the road to a trail with a stepped path (500 m).
Walk uphill and before you get to the stone
bridge, climb down to the pool (no trail).
a > P 46.36132 8.97158 > f 20 min
Take the A2 exit “44-Biasca”, then
follow the signposts for “Biasca” to
the roundabout at the large parking
area (2 km). Exit the roundabout in the direction
of the church (signposted). Turn left before
the Bank BPS and drive 120 m to the town hall,
which has a parking area behind it. f Follow the
cycle route signposts for the Chiesa San Carlo
di Borromeo church (150 m), then follow the
series of Stations of the Cross.
B 46.35288 8.97662
Grande Cascata
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11. Iragna: Pozz Borgh
Spots to relax Space to swim Water temp. 10:00 _ 18:00
This village swimming spot on the Riale d’Iragna is usually quite busy. The rugged ravine
that the stream flows through is also popular among canyoners. Groups of visitors wearing
neoprene often show up in the chasm. There are two natural slides here and places to
jump in. Stone blocks at the edge of the pool provide spots to relax. Dogs are not allowed.
Riviera
Pozz Borgh in Iragna
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90 metres above the pool in the village,
three other fine pools of the Riale d’Iragna
are easy to access:
Hidden waterfall
(! 10 min above Pozz Borgh)
A small, deep pool surrounded by cliffs. The
channel of the waterfall looks like it was created
by designers. Follow the trail on the right
bank upstream for 80 metres. Then walk across
a rocky area towards the stream and follow the
rushing sound of the waterfall. Use the fixed
rope to climb down to the edge of the pool.
Hidden waterfall
PT > b Iragna, Ponte dei ladri > f 5 min
f d
a > P 46.32779 8.96845 > f 3 min
Take the A2 exit “44-Biasca”, then
follow the signposts for “Bellinzona”
on the west main valley road
and drive to the bus stop described above. Park
next to the stream. f d
D Walk upstream to the pool (300 m) past the
c Osteria al Pozz.
B 46.32923 8.96559
Pool by the stone bridge
(10 min above Pozz Borgh)
A swimming spot beneath a small, old stone
bridge with large stones at the edge to relax
on. You can swim a little way into the ravine.
Take the trail on the right bank up to the small
bridge, cross it, and climb down over the stones
to the pool below.
Pool by the stone bridge
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Large waterfall
(! 20 min above Pozz Borgh)
A waterfall 40 metres high with several small,
deep pools and huge, rounded stone banks. At
the stone bridge (see p. 38), continue a few
steps straight ahead to the sealed road. Follow
the road 80 metres further to the second narrow
curve to the right where there is a kerb. Climb
over the rock ledge into the woods and follow
traces of disturbance that indicate the path taken
by previous visitors. Finally, scramble down
over the rocks.
Riviera
Large waterfall
Below the large waterfall
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