Driving tour into Maggia Valley, Locarno

This driving tour is 45km/28mi from Locarno to Fusio: a good road, almost level as far as Bignasco.

Leave on the Centovalli road and in 4km/2mi, at Ponte Brolla (260 m/953ft, turn off to the right into a road which ascends the left bank of the Maggia, in a wide valley enclosed between steep wooded crags. 7.5km/5mi: church of Santa Maria della Grazie di Campagna, with a wooden ceiling and 16th C. frescoes. From this point it is 0.5km/less than 0.5mi to Maggia.

Useful tips: Key to Santa Maria della Grazie di Campagna is in Ristorante Poncini, Maggia.

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Related Attractions

Maggia, Switzerland

Maggia (347 m/1,139ft) is situated among extensive vineyards. In the village are charming old houses with arcades, picturesque courtyards and wooden balconies. Above the village the Baroque Parish church of San Maurizio, the oldest in the valley, has fine stucco work and 17th C. statues inside. It is a short walk to a beautiful waterfall. From here it is 5km/3mi to Giumaglio.

Sasso Trolcia

Beyond the village of Giumaglio, on the left, is the Sasso Trolcia, a rock wall over which the River Soladino plunges in a waterfall 100 m/328ft high. From here it is 8km/5mi to Cevio.

Cevio, Switzerland

Cevio (418 m/1,371ft) is the chief place in the Maggia valley, with a 17th C. governor's house (pretorio), situated at the mouth of the beautiful Valle di Campo. A road runs up this valley to Cimalmotto (14km/9mi) and (in a side valley) Bosco-Gurin (15km/9mi), the only German-speaking village in Ticino. From here it is 3km/2mi to Bignasco.

Bignasco, Switzerland

Bignasco (441 m/1,447ft), delightfully situated at the mouth of the Val Bavona (characteristic local style of building, beautiful little churches; hydro-electric installations). 11km/7mi up the valley is San Carlo, with several cableways. Beyond this point the Maggia valley is known as the Val Broglio. 8km/5mi: Prato (750 m/2,461ft), at the mouth of the Val di Prato, which runs down from Pizzo Campo Tencia.

2km/1mi: Peccia (839 m/2,753ft), with a hydro-electric station. From here the road climbs in sharp bends to the upper part of the Maggia valley, the Val Lavizzara which has interesting flora. From here it is 7km/4mi to Fúsio.