Category: castle

PRADA VILLAGE

This circular hike was a really nice surprise for us. I didn’t find much information about this village beforehand nor did i know we could connect it with one of the Bellinzona’s castles.

We started in Bellinzona’s acquedotto comunale. From there we followed the red towards the forest. This first part of the hike is all uphill but it’s doable. The surroundings are changing and it’s only about 30 min. After this there is no more uphill. Promise

Soon enough you’re going to see a church through the trees . Could it be? Yes, it’s Prada village. My son had fun exploring the remaining parts of the houses. Check http://www.fondazione-prada.ch/ and you can help to preserve this medieval village.

After short rain shower we decided not to go back to the car but we continued following the red signs.

Until it led us downhill through forest and a village to Sasso Corbaro where we had picnic just outside the castle’s wall. Beautiful

Last stop of today Chiesa di Santa Maria della Nieve (nearby the acquedotto comunale)

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SENTIERO DELLE MERAVIGLIE

One of the hikes from brochures you can get in tourist info centers. This particular one is in Malcantone area. It’s circular and has around 7 km. [Some site i’ve seen before the hike stated that the total time of this hike is about 2 hours, which be aware, specially with younger children, is NOT.  It took us almost double]

What I particularly like about this hike is that there are many points of interest on the way and my son couldn’t wait what else awaits us.

Specially “Miniere Baglioni e Franzi” impressed us.

Another stop we enjoyed was “Castello di Miglieglia”

There are couple of “serious” downhill uphill situations in the end of this circular hike so just be prepared for this. I can’t wait to come back in summer when you can enjoy more the rivers you cross, the grotto you pass and the longer days.

BERGAMO città alta

This beauty is one and half hours drive away. Unfortunately with a toddler you can’t really stretch the day much, so we had time to see only the upper district. Città Alta, where the historic core is, is separated from the Lower City with a powerful Venetian wall. (Venetian defensive systems are a Unesco Heritage Site since 2017)

We took the funicular to Castello di San Vigilio for some views and than stroll around the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.