Walking guide to the Ticino Alps – Switzerland, Europe

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Maps
• Reviews

Of all the alpine districts of Switzerland, Ticino is least known – as far as the British are concerned, that is. In summer one finds the Swiss themselves holidaying there, but rarely visitors from the UK. Those who have ventured south of the alpine watershed, however, have done so usually in a rather sedentary manner and at the expense of pleasures that may be gained in out-of-the-way places by restricting their excursions to the sun-glinting lakeside resorts of Lugano or Locarno, leaving the mountains and their wild inner valleys to the marmots and chamois….

Ticino (Tessin in German and French) is the only canton in Switzerland to be confined to the southern slopes of the alpine watershed. Until the sixteenth century a part of Italy and sharing many of the features of Lombardy, it is, not unexpectedly, a predominately Italianate region who language, climate, architecture and culture all reflect its origins.

Warmth, sunshine and an almost liquid purity of light are among the region’s characteristics which the first-time visitor will be quick to perceive. Another is the quality of the scenery which is in complete contrast to that of districts north of the watershed. Its valleys plunge steeply towards the south; grey rocky peaks rising from lush chestnut woods; narrow valleys with few level pastures.

In Ticino there are few extensive fields of permanent snow and even fewer glaciers. There are no great upthrusting aiguilles upon which rock climbers can test themselves, and the very summits of the mountains seldom attain heights much in excess of 3000 metres (10,000ft). The Alps of Ticino are mountains of another order, with no household names among them on which to focus attention. In fact none but the most dedicated of alpinists will have heard of more than one or two of Ticino’s peaks.

Yet in this unknown lies some of its appeal. It’s an area of unsung, unsophisticated charm. But it’s a very real charm nonetheless.