At 1,361 metres above sea level, Campello is a settlement in the municipality of Faido, in the Leventina district of the canton of Ticino. The village’s history and the Baroque Church of Santa Margherita give a stay a cultural focus, while protected landscapes and designated sports and hiking opportunities offer further ideas for planning a trip.
Campello’s History and Cultural Heritage
The village is traditionally believed to have originated in the mid-18th century, when the population settled in Campello after abandoning the settlement of Fontanedo. Today, the parish church of Santa Margherita and a traditional residential building are designated as local cultural heritage worthy of protection.
Santa Margherita was built in the Baroque style in 1632. Its nave has two bays with cross-vaulting, along with a side chapel and a polygonal choir. The interior was completely renovated in 1961 and restored in 1995. The artworks also give the church its own chronology: the choir fresco by FrĂ Roberto dates from 1965, and the tabernacle and crucifix by Milo Cleis from 1964. The Marian chapel houses a dressed statue of the Virgin Mary dating from the early 19th century.
Protected Landscapes and Nature
The landscape protection areas include places of particular scenic value; their protected character and the harmony of the area are to be preserved. Protected natural features include wet and nutrient-poor meadows, dry-stone walls, and “ciossene”—individual trees or groups of trees. Springs, watercourses with their banks and riverside vegetation, as well as alpine ponds, are also included. Pastures, alpine pastures and nutrient-poor meadows also shape Campello’s agricultural landscape.
Sports and Trails: Seasonal Activities and Hiking Routes
The Carì ski area is listed under the postal code 6760 Campello. Activities include alpine skiing, mountain biking and snowboarding; operations may vary seasonally. The area has two chairlifts, two magic carpets and 20 kilometres of groomed slopes. These figures may change with future expansions. When snow conditions and operating conditions are suitable, there is also a three-kilometre toboggan run and snowshoe trails.
Other sports facilities are grouped at the Centro sportivo Pro Carì, which includes a natural ice rink and a grass sports field; their use may be seasonal. The Centro tennistico TC Carì has an outdoor tennis court with a synthetic surface. As access arrangements may change, it is advisable to check them before planning to use the facilities.
The Rifugio Gana Rossa is an unstaffed alpine hut for mountaineering and hiking. It is open year-round and has a sleeping room for twelve people. Check the access conditions before setting out. The walk from the hut to the Laghi di Motella takes about 50 minutes; in fine weather, it is suitable for well-equipped hikers.
The described Strada Alta hiking route also passes through Campello or follows a turn-off to Campello. On the return journey, you can skip this turn-off, reducing the ascent by about 250 metres. Different details are therefore useful when choosing a route: for the Laghi di Motella, the walking time, weather and equipment are key; for the Strada Alta, the decision is whether to take on the additional ascent.
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Campello, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: Santa Margherita and the protected cultural landscape offer a different reason to plan a visit than the seasonal sports activities or hiking routes. Plan your day around the relevant conditions, and in particular check access to the hut before setting out on a hike.
Discover more destinations: Anzonico, Sobrio, Dalpe, Chironico, Bedretto, Giornico, Quinto Ti, Piotta.
For the overview of the wider travel region: Leventina.
