Castaneda lies on the terraces on the Mesolcina side. The village terrace at an altitude of 800 metres bears witness to more than 4,500 years of agriculture. The terraces of Castaneda and Santa Maria also have a settlement history stretching back thousands of years. The discovery of a settlement dating to the Late Neolithic period is part of this history. Archaeological traces and routes through the landscape offer two different ways to explore the area: those interested in early settlement will find plenty of history here, while those who prefer to be on the move can follow the routes and stages described below.
Necropolis and Iron Age finds
The necropolis of Castaneda comprises up to 250 stone burial chambers dating from the 6th to the 3rd century BC. The deceased were buried with rich grave goods. Iron Age finds from Castaneda and Cama include fibulae, pendants, earrings, jade jewellery necklaces, situlae, beaked jugs, iron swords, jugs and goblets. The finds provide a varied picture of the objects included in the burials; they come from both Castaneda and Cama.
The exploration of death and burial rites also extends to the present day. A project dated 2024 for a new section of the permanent exhibition at the Museo Moesano deals with death and related rites during the Iron Age. The initiative grew out of the results of archaeological excavations in Cama in 2019 and in Castaneda in 2020. The exhibition theme thus focuses on the sites and their archaeological findings.
Santo Stefano: history in several construction phases
The Baroque parish church of Santo Stefano lies in the heart of Castaneda. It was first mentioned in 1544, then remodelled and reconsecrated in 1633. A nave and a bell tower were added over time. The various construction phases can also be seen in the artwork and decorations: the choir contains a painting from 1636 depicting Christ the Saviour, set in an original Renaissance frame. Traces of several 17th-century decorations have also been preserved. The church and the necropolis highlight different periods: here, the focus is on architectural and art history; there, on the grave finds.
On foot: old trails and named stages
An old mule track lined with dry-stone walls leads from Castaneda to Santa Maria; this route is part of the Calanca Route. The Grono–Santa Maria stage of the ViaCalanca is listed as 4 kilometres long, with a walking time of two hours. Actual walking time may vary depending on conditions. This information helps you gauge how long the stage may take, while no walking time is given for the mule track.
Other paths lead to the mills of Pisela. The Grono Historic Path passes the Capela del Pciüti and leads to the mills; the Menö Trail also goes there. From the mills, the route continues to the Mola forest and Santa Maria iC. From there, it leads to the Capela de Bolada at an altitude of 1,674 metres. The names and destinations distinguish the routes described; no walking time is given for these sections.
Mill landscape and Route 26
The Mulini di Pisela complex is part of the landscape of Castaneda and lies just below the village. The surviving remains include a stone millstone, part of the storage room and part of a room intended as living quarters. The mills are therefore not only a destination along the trails, but also a place where the former use of the landscape can be traced. Potatoes, maize, millet, flax, rye, wheat and buckwheat were grown in the fields near the mills. The chestnut also once played an important role in the diet in Buseno, Castaneda and Santa Maria: the trees were protected and used as a food source.
Route 26 is another point of reference for getting around and cycling. The old access road on the left side of the valley was renovated between 2021 and 2023. It is called Route 26 because of its 26 hairpin bends. As a cycle route, it runs from Grono to the villages of Castaneda and Santa Maria, following the bends of the historic road. Alongside the walking trails, this provides a separate cycling option with a winding route.
Discover more destinations: San Vittore Gr, Roveredo, Misox, Soazza, Braggio, Cama, Santa Maria In Calanca, Selma.
For the broader travel overview: Moesa.
