Strada Alta in the Leventina Valley

Step onto the Strada Alta and you step back in time. This classic Ticino walk traces an ancient hillside route through the Leventina Valley, where the scent of pine resin drifts through pristine forests, weathered wooden homes recall centuries of mountain life, and graceful little churches punctuate the landscape like quiet prayers. Every bend in the trail reveals another village, another view, another chapter in a story shaped by hardship, faith, and the enduring beauty of the Alps. The itinerary described here is the first stage of a three-day trek.

Itinerary: Strada Alta in the Leventina Valley (5h, see map)

The walk begins at Airolo's train station. Following the main street southward, you cross Via San Gottardo through the village centre and continue to the cemetery, where you turn left toward the hamlet of Valle. The old mule track of Canaria Valley carries you on to Madrano, with a dramatic view of the Stalvedro Gorge plunging away below.

The Strada Alta continues toward Brugnasco and Altanca, where you find the intermediate station of the Ritom funicular, one of the steepest in the world. Near the funicular, the beautiful village church perches on bare rock, its interior richly decorated. The village also preserves a lovingly restored old mill, a tangible link to the grain harvests of centuries past.

Beyond Altanca, the trail climbs to Cresta di Sopra, the highest point of the walk at 1,419 metres. From here the path descends through the beautiful hamlet of Ronco and on to Deggio. A gentle rise brings you to San Martino, where an 11th-century church, one of the valley's oldest, stands in dignified silence. Continue through Lurengo and into the Bosco d'Oss forest, which leads to Freggio. This final stretch runs above the dramatic Piottino Gorge, marking the passage from the High Valley into Middle Leventina. Past the village chapel, a short climb brings you to Osco, the destination for this first stage. From Osco, a bus descends to Faido, where you can catch a train home.

The complete Strada Alta route includes two further stages: Osco to Anzonico (3 hours and 30 minutes, particularly recommended) and Anzonico to Biasca (4 hours and 45 minutes). Along the way, charming small hotels offer overnight accommodation, allowing you to savour each stage at your own pace.