#ticinomoments 2024

24
#ticinomoments
The Upper Leventina, with its unspoilt nature and landscapes
ranging from snow-covered peaks to endless meadows, is
the ideal place to recharge your batteries. A real paradise for
walkers… and also for those who love keeping their balance.
5 REASONS
WHY IT’S
WORTH IT
FOLIAGE IN THE UPPER LEVENTINA
The train has just emerged from the Gotthard
railway tunnel. Destination? Faido, in the Upper
Leventina. My friends and I decided to treat
ourselves to two days of nature and carefree
fun to take a break from the daily grind.
From the window I glimpse the Gottardo Arena,
the new Ambrì-Piotta ice hockey rink that hosts
matches in the national league. Who knows,
maybe one evening we’ll be able to pay a visit.
I’ve heard that they even organise guided tours.
The train reaches the station. Just in time to hop
on the PostBus leaving for the village of Dalpe.
As the coach climbs the hairpin bends, I observe
the landscape, which is at its most beautiful at
this time of year. The colours of the trees range
from green to yellow, passing through orange
and red to brown. The autumn hues convey a
sense of peace. I can’t wait to get going!
INSIDE THE ENCHANTED WOOD
A stone’s throw from the bus stop I spot a small
wooden house marked “prodotti locali”. How can
we resist? Cheese, biscuits, honey, yoghurt: all
strictly local. Each of us buys something for the
picnic we will enjoy later on.
We follow the signs and make our way along the
path that climbs up through the fields before entering
thicker vegetation. First stop? Boscobello.
A wood reminiscent of those you find in fairy
tales, inhabited by elves, with towering larches
and clearings dotted here and there. I look at
my friends. A smile and a nod of understanding
is all it takes. Yes, this is the perfect place to set
up the slackline.
BALANCING TO FIND YOURSELF AGAIN
Together we choose the trees to which to tie the
webbing: a final check on the tension, a small
adjustment and we’re ready to get started. The
late-morning sun penetrates the woodland,
creating patterns of light and shade that warm
us up nicely.
I take off my shoes, step onto the “line” and listen
to my breathing. It’s incredible how doing an
activity like this frees your mind. You need to
really concentrate to keep your balance. Your
brain slowly adapts to the new sensations, with
the movements becoming automatic. Walking
suspended in mid-air is not just fun and exciting,
but it’s also an opportunity to reconnect
with yourself.
We take turns on the slackline.
BETWEEN WATERCOURSES AND SNOWY PEAKS
Having had our fill, we start walking again, making
our way out of the woods and towards the
Piumogna Valley. The landscape changes once
more and snow-capped peaks can be seen in
the distance: Pizzo Campo Tencia, Pizzo Penca
and Pizzo Forno. The river of the same name
flows through the valley, with the path running
alongside it. We reach a small, crystal-clear lake
and stop to enjoy the delicacies we purchased
earlier. Delicious! Before the sun sets behind the
mountains, we stretch out on the grass and make
the most of the last warm rays of the day. It’s
time to go and we continue on our loop, which
takes us easily back to Dalpe.
A SWEET FINALE
We travel by public transport to the Camping
Gottardo in Chiggiogna, where we’ve decided to
stay the night. It proves to be a great decision.
There’s even a bakery in the campsite! It’s snack
time, and so we try a local speciality: the Spampezia,
a crisp pastry filled with ground walnuts.
As we savour every mouthful of this famous
delicacy, we reflect on our plans for the next
day. I suggest stopping at Ticino’s bouldering
mecca in Chironico (a few kilometres from
Faido). “Perfect, excellent idea!” reply my travel
companions in unison. All today’s training on the
slackline will certainly prove useful tomorrow.
It has been a day worth remembering, not only
because of the beautiful and relaxing nature
but also because of the excellent gastronomic
discoveries we made along the way. I make a
mental note: I’ll definitely be coming back to
the Leventina Valley.
Protip
Did you know that there’s a dedicated slacklining
association in Ticino? It’s called TIslacco and
has been promoting this sport on a regional and
national level since 2021. (tislacco.ch)
TO THE
VIDEO
Discover the magic of
the Leventina Valley in
autumn: amidst intense
colours and scents.
Try slacklining in a
peaceful setting.
This is an activity
that is accessible to
everyone and offers
numerous mental and
physical benefits.
It’s an excellent
opportunity to try local
specialities from Ticino:
particularly the sweet
pastries.
Slackline equipment
is easy to set up
and take down.