Casaccia lies at an altitude of 1,458 m at the foot of the Maloja Pass and the Septimer Pass. Churches, a medieval watchtower and several cultural and hiking trails give the village a range of historical and scenic perspectives. When planning, it is worth distinguishing day hikes from multi-day routes: the Sentiero Panoramico is a hike to Soglio with a specified distance and duration, while the Via Bregaglia and Via Sett are longer, multi-stage routes.
Two passes and the history of the trails
The Maloja Pass leads to the Engadin. The Septimer Pass is an important crossing that was already in use before Roman times. In past centuries, Casaccia was the starting point for important trade routes because of its strategic location. Traffic over the passes also shaped local trades: there were once 40 blacksmiths, many saddlers and inns that benefited from the passing trade.
Today, the activities at the two passes also differ. The Septimer Pass is used by cyclists and hikers; in summer, the Maloja Pass attracts numerous cyclists.
Churches and historic traces
The San Gaudenzio church complex is a cultural asset of regional importance and is protected as a historic monument. The large Late Gothic church has a single-nave hall and a recessed polygonal choir. Its vaults have collapsed, but the exterior walls are largely intact. San Gaudenzio was first mentioned in 998; the Late Gothic church was built in 1518. The site was also once a popular pilgrimage destination.
Above Casaccia, on a small terrace, stand the remains of the medieval watchtower La Toracia. Another landmark in the village’s history is the Reformed church: it was built in 1742 after a landslide buried the former chapel in 1740. To learn more about Casaccia’s history and culture, you can book a guided village tour on request. It lasts 1.5 to 2 hours.
Hikes and multi-day cultural trails
The Via Bregaglia is a multi-day cultural trail that can be completed in three or four stages. Its first stage runs from Maloja to Vicosoprano through Casaccia, through forests and meadows, and past the ruins of San Gaudenzio. The landscape on the plain before Casaccia is another landmark in its own right: meadows and birch and larch forests offer views of the Albigna dam, nestled among the mountains.
The panoramic Bergell high-altitude trail, also known as the Sentiero Panoramico, starts in Casaccia and heads towards Soglio and on to Italy. Along the sunny side of Bergell, it repeatedly offers views of the rugged 3,000-metre peaks that separate Bregaglia from Italy. The hike from Casaccia to Soglio is listed as taking about five hours; it is 14.2 km long, graded T2 as a mountain hike, and involves 414 m of ascent and 770 m of descent. Hiking conditions may change with the seasons; check them before setting out.
The Via Sett links Thusis and Chiavenna in five daily stages and follows in the footsteps of Roman emperors, kings and merchants. The stages can be shortened using public transport; check connections before your trip. On the interactive Via Sett route, the fourth stage ends in Casaccia. This means you can choose from longer routes as well as the hike to Soglio.
Seasonal activities and accommodation planning
In winter, the small Sur Cresta ski lift is suitable for people learning to ski and is popular with beginners. Before your visit, check whether the seasonal lift is operating. This winter option is distinct from the hiking and cycling activities at the passes featured in the other route descriptions.
For a multi-day hike on the Via Bregaglia, a package can be a practical planning option. It includes four hotel nights, three of them with half-board excluding drinks, three luggage transfers from one hotel to the next, three packed lunches, a hiking map with detailed documentation and a parking card. The package contents and availability may change; check the details before booking. This makes it possible to plan the route and accommodation together, without assuming that the listed inclusions apply to every stay.
Discover more destinations: Sils in the Engadin, Zuoz, Soglio Gr, Samedan, Celerina/Schlarigna, St. Moritz, Sils/Segl Baselgia, Madulain.
Back to the main travel overview: Maloja.
