Tamaro – Lema

Few walks in southern Switzerland stir the soul quite like the ridge crossing from Monte Tamaro to Monte Lema. For five exhilarating hours you trace a skyline path high above the world, with the shimmering expanse of Lake Maggiore on one side, the glittering bay of Lugano on the other, and the snow-capped pinnacles of the Monte Rosa massif and the Matterhorn piercing the distant horizon. It is a walk that makes you feel suspended between earth and sky, and it has rightly become one of Ticino's essential hiking experiences.

Itinerary: Tamaro - Lema (5h, see map)

The adventure begins in Rivera, where a cableway sweeps you up to Alpe Foppa at 1,530 metres in just a few minutes. Here, perched on the mountain slope, stands the striking church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, designed by renowned architect Mario Botta in the 1990s. Its bold geometric lines seem to reach toward infinity, and the interior glows with a luminous painting by artist Enzo Cucchi, making it a pilgrimage site for architecture lovers.

The Monte Tamaro area also offers a broad range of activities: an Adventure Park, a sledge course, paragliding, and mountain biking, all complemented by a restaurant and cultural attractions that make it an appealing destination even before you lace up your hiking boots.

To begin the crossing, you first ascend to the summit of Monte Tamaro at 1,962 metres. The climb takes nearly two hours but rewards you with a breathtaking panorama. From here, a well-marked path follows the undulating mountain crest through peaks, slopes, and sun-warmed pastures, eventually reaching Monte Lema in the Malcantone at 1,620 metres. Throughout the entire traverse, the view unfolds in every direction: northward to Lake Maggiore, Centovalli, Verzasca Valley, Maggia Valley, Locarno, and Bellinzona; southward across Lugano, its surrounding valleys, and its lake. On clear days, the majestic silhouettes of Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn emerge on the far horizon.

Classified T2, the itinerary straddles Ticino and Italy and demands a reasonable level of fitness, not for technical difficulty but for its five-hour duration. From Monte Lema, a comfortable cableway descends to Miglieglia. Room and board are available at Alpe Foppa, Monte Tamaro, and Monte Lema. Carry plenty of water, as springs and streams are scarce along the route, and equip yourself properly for a mountain excursion.

The crossing can also be walked in the opposite direction. During summer, a shuttle bus service is available for holders of a combined ticket, purchased at either departure station, to return to the starting point. We recommend departing from Rivera and purchasing the combined ticket that includes entry to the Splash & Spa aquatic park, a perfect way to soothe tired muscles after a day on the ridge.