Rasa is a village in the Centovalli in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. At an altitude of 900 metres, it lies on a sunny natural terrace surrounded by meadows and forests. Rasa is considered a typical, well-preserved Ticino village. If you are considering it as a base for your stay, you can make the surrounding hikes, the village layout or its church art the focus of your trip.
Hiking and scenery
Rasa provides access to numerous hikes in the Centovalli. One specifically named option is the “Camedo-Bordei-Terra Vecchia-Rasa” hike, which can be reached by public transport. Check the latest connections before setting off. If you have not chosen a specific route yet, you can use the wider selection of hikes as a guide; if the named route is your main focus, you can plan your journey around it.
The village itself offers a different view of the surroundings from a hiking trail: stone houses surround the church, and the gardens have well-kept flower beds. Picnic spots overlooking the surrounding mountains add to the outdoor options. You can choose between a longer hike, a picnic with mountain views, or a stay focused on the village’s details.
A swing from the “Swing the World” project is located less than ten minutes uphill from Rasa. A short path through the autumn forest leads to it, with views back over the village. The autumn forest setting is described as seasonal. While the picnic spots look out over the surrounding mountains, the swing offers a view back towards Rasa—two different perspectives on the landscape.
Churches and works of art
The Chiesa di S. Anna dates from the 18th century and has three altars. Its marble altars are neoclassical in style; the baptismal font dates from the 17th century. The church also houses a painting of the Madonna with Saint Anne, attributed to Pietro Ligario of Sondrio. The information about the building, its furnishings and the painting highlights different aspects of the church, and they do not all date from the same period.
Another work is found in the chapel of the Madonna del Rosario: an antependium featuring Antonio Ciseri’s “S. Anna e Maria bambina,” an oil painting on copper from 1847. This work is in a different religious building from the artworks in the Chiesa di S. Anna. If church art is your main interest, you can distinguish between the different works and their respective locations.
More to see and how to get there
In Rasa, you can enjoy a typical meal and a refreshing drink at a grotto. To see more of the region, the Centovalli Railway runs between Locarno and Domodossola through a landscape of forested mountains, hills and valleys; numerous waterfalls cascade into the Melezza. The regional scenery offers a different focus from Rasa’s specific village and church sights.
Rasa is connected to Verdasio by cable car. The Verdasio–Rasa cable car is closed for renovation work from 1 January 2026 until spring 2027. Check the latest travel information and details about this connection before your trip.
When looking for accommodation in Rasa, your trip idea is a good place to start: would you mainly like to hike in the Centovalli, discover the village and its church art, or combine both? Also check your travel dates against the latest information on getting there before planning your stay.
Discover more destinations: Onsernone, Brione Sopra Minusio, Caviano, Indemini, Ascona, Cugnasco-Gerra, Vira, Isorno
Back to the main travel overview: Locarno.
