In Sant'antonio (Carena), the history of ironworking can be traced at several sites: the preserved Cà dal Fer ironworks house, the Maglio e Forno complex and the mines of Valletta. The Via del Ferro takes up this theme as a trail. The oratory, memorials and routes into the alpine terrain add to the options for a stay.
Ironworks and mining history
The former Cà dal Fer ironworks house is preserved in Carena. Giovanni Bruni and his business partners built it in 1792/93. It served as a manor house, housing the ironworks offices. The pre-industrial Maglio e Forno complex comprised much more than a furnace: it included a hammer, workers' accommodation, coal stores, forges and metalworking rooms.
The history of processing dates back to the 15th century: at Corte del forno, the Muggiasca company processed iron ore. The Valletta mines are documented as having been worked from the Middle Ages through the first half of the 19th century. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Maglio operation employed 80 to 100 workers; in 1813, the ironworks furnace was the only one of its kind in Ticino.
The ruins of Maglio e Forno were excavated, consolidated and restored. In 1999, the old furnace and other remains came to light. Miniera del Pozzo and Miniera Diritta were reopened, secured and enhanced between 2006 and 2007. Guided visits to the complex are generally organised throughout the year; specific dates and booking arrangements may vary. The interior of the Valletta mines can be accessed from the Via del Ferro only as part of a guided tour. Check dates and visiting arrangements in advance.
Via del Ferro and trails through the landscape
The Piazza della Via del Ferro in Carena is considered the starting point of the Via del Ferro; its first themed information panel is also located there. A bronze statue in the square depicts the former work of the men and women who mined and processed iron ore in the upper valley. Information about the Via del Ferro points towards the Italian valleys of Cavargna and Albano via the Bocchetta di Sommafiume. The Corte del forno site is also crossed by the ancient mule track to San Jorio.
The Via del Ferro passes through the alpine surroundings of Alpe Giumello and a rare mountain pine forest before reaching the wooded area of Giggio. At Alpe Giumello, the dairy produces Giumello DOP cheese. Visits there can be arranged with the Azienda Agraria Cantonale di Mezzana; seasonal access is available from mid-June to mid-September. Check with the Azienda in advance to arrange your visit.
The routes around Carena also differ in their course. At 958 metres above sea level, Carena is the endpoint of an e-bike tour through Val Morobbia. On the Valle Morobbia Bike route, near Carena, the route leaves the paved road and follows a singletrack through a chestnut grove to Monti Paudo. Another themed route, part of the ForTI project, starts in Carena and follows military structures and fortifications from the First World War towards San Jorio and the Gesero hut. The routes differ in their themes and surfaces.
Oratory and traces of memory
The Oratorio di San Bernardino in Carena is a small rectangular building with a cross-vaulted choir and a bell tower on the main façade. The stucco altar dates from the 17th century. The oratory also has a Stations of the Cross consisting of 14 wooden panels, donated by the artist Gottfried Müller. The architecture, altar and panels thus provide a different focus from the remains of the former ironworking industry.
The military presence in Val Morobbia also left its mark on the houses in Carena: commemorative plaques and frescoes recall it. Between 1939 and 1945, the artist Carlo Campelli created three frescoes and sixteen commemorative plaques here. Together with the industrial sites, this part of the area's history offers a distinct perspective on Carena's cultural character.
Discover more destinations: Isone, Giubiasco, Sementina, Carasso, Gorduno, Gudo Ti, Gnosca, Cadenazzo
For the overview of the wider area: Bellinzona.
