Faido combines the history of an important Ticino tourism centre during the Belle Époque with distinctive buildings and trails by the waterfall and river. You can explore the town from different perspectives when planning your visit: through historical guided tours, themed trails or outdoor activities.
Faido between mountains and cultural history
Faido lies in the Valle Leventina, between the mountains and the River Ticino. The municipality includes forests, meadows and alpine highlands. Local history also has several facets: during the Belle Époque, from 1896 to 1914, Faido became the canton of Ticino’s third most important tourism centre. A guided Belle Époque tour takes you through Faido; the meeting point is at Faido railway station.
Casa Selvini is a striking example of the town’s architectural history. The rear stone section of the building dates from the 14th century, while the front wooden section dates from 1582. The building is considered a typical Leventina house: it has a wooden façade and a shingle roof and is now a cultural property of national importance.
You can also learn more about Faido’s Capuchin monastery on a guided tour. The tour takes you through the rooms where the friars live, work and pray, and includes a historical library. Established in 1720, the library contains around 5,600 volumes. Depending on the route, the monastery tour passes old hotels and Belle Époque villas or follows the scenic Sentiero dei Lazzaroni.
Another historic site is the Segheria di Faido. It houses a horizontal saw, considered the only one of its kind still operating in Switzerland. There is also a room dedicated to the forest, with a documentary about its history, as well as an exhibition on fungi and insects.
Trails by the waterfall and the Ticino
If you would like to combine a walk with a specific landscape, you can choose a trail based on its length and route. The educational trail by the Cascata Piumogna is 2 km long and has an elevation change of around 100 m around the waterfall. The Sentiero degli animali is 1 km long and follows the River Ticino.
The sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna di Re is also accessible from Faido via a walk through the forest. It was built between 1839 and 1841 on the site of an existing chapel. Another way to explore Faido thematically is the GiocaFaido route: it leads through the town and covers nature, the Belle Époque and the region’s energy. The route is quiz-based. You can take part using a form on the back of the map or by scanning QR codes on the signs.
Activities in the town
For activities on wheels, Pump Track Faido offers several options: it can be used with bicycles, roller skates, scooters and skateboards, and is open daily free of charge. The MTB Skill Park is near the sports centre. Various obstacles and features make it a place to practise technical skills and improve riding technique; it is also open daily.
The covered bouldering wall in Faido makes it possible to boulder all year round, regardless of the weather. It is freely accessible at no charge and open to everyone. The activities differ not only in what you can do, but also in whether you’d like to ride a bicycle, skate, mountain bike or climb at the bouldering wall.
Getting to Faido and finding accommodation
Regional bus routes complement public transport to the surrounding municipalities. If you are looking for a hotel in Faido, you can plan your stay around your interests: cultural history and guided tours, trails by the waterfall and river, or activities in the town. This gives you specific options for your itinerary without requiring you to follow a set order.
Discover more destinations: Calonico, Quinto Ti, Piotta, Prato, Giornico, Airolo, Chironico, Bodio Ti.
For the main travel overview: Leventina.
