Above Verdabbio, boulders bearing cup marks are spread across 14 sites over an area of about 3 hectares. Historic trails and chapels add to these distinctive traces of cultural heritage. When planning a trip to Verdabbio, you can choose your own focus, from archaeological motifs to architectural history and the history of the trails.
Location and history of Verdabbio
Verdabbio is an Italian-speaking locality in the municipality of Grono in the canton of GraubĂĽnden. It lies on a terrace on the right-hand slope of the Misox, between the Ria di Val di Cama and Piz Duna, about 300 metres above the valley floor. Until 31 December 2016, Verdabbio was an independent political municipality. Its territory included much of Val di Cama, a side valley on the left of the Misox, as well as the locality of Piani di Verdabbio on the valley floor west of the Moesa.
Verdabbio was first mentioned in 1203 under its name at the time, Vertabio. In addition to historical written records, the chapels and trails also bear witness to this long history. They provide a context in which the rock carvings are not a standalone feature, but part of a varied historical heritage.
Cup marks and boulders
The carvings on the boulders were deliberately made and mainly depict crosses and cup marks; they are not the result of natural processes. Individual rocks differ in both size and the number and type of carvings. This makes it possible to focus your visit on specific motifs rather than viewing the sites as a single, uniform group.
A natural rock ledge at Asccitt bears 13 cup marks, a Greek cross and a triangle. With an area of about 100 square metres, Asccitt is one of the largest boulders in Italian-speaking Switzerland. There is an accessible cave below the rock. The Sass dell'Orch boulder weighs around 10 tonnes and bears 17 carvings.
The Cappella della Riva also contains a boulder bearing cup marks; the chapel dates from the 19th century. Bertilon rocks 3, 4 and 5 lie near Sass de Natal, below the forest road on the old trail from the village to the mountains. One rock slab bears 13 cup marks, 10 crosses and 6 channels. Their size, location and motifs offer different points of interest if you want to explore the individual rock carvings.
Chapels and a special date
The Oratorio di Santa Maria Immacolata stands on a natural terrace amid a chestnut forest. It was built in 1696, restored between 1987 and 1994, and placed under the protection of historic monuments. Every year on 8 December, at 10:57 a.m. during the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a light phenomenon can be seen there. If this date is a key part of your trip, check the details again before setting off.
Another chapel with its own history is the Capèla di Piét: it was built as a votive chapel on a large boulder and is associated with a legend. Together with the Cappella della Riva and the Oratorio, it illustrates the variety of religious buildings and places of remembrance in Verdabbio.
Historic trails and practical information
The Verdabbio–Piani di Verdabbio mule track is classified as a route of national importance. It is 1,225 metres long, with an elevation difference of 175 metres. The route “Alla scoperta dei massi cuppellari” is listed as 3 kilometres long, with a stated duration of 1 hour and 25 minutes. These measurements offer different points of reference for planning: for the mule track, the focus is on length and elevation difference, while the second route also has a time estimate.
Seasonal conditions may affect practical access to the route “Alla scoperta dei massi cuppellari”. Take this into account when planning and check conditions before your visit. You can also connect the trail information with the interests that bring you to Verdabbio: the cup marks, the historic links or the chapels. The route details, however, apply only to the specific routes they describe.
The cultural heritage offers various points of interest when choosing your destination: the boulders are known for their prehistoric carvings, the Oratorio for its architectural history and the annual December event, and the mule track for its classification as a historic route. You can plan your trip around the topic that interests you most, without conflating the different places and route details.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Selma, Santa Maria In Calanca, Rossa Gr, Braggio, Misox, Roveredo, Cama, San Bernardino.
For the overview of the wider region: Moesa.
