Bombinasco combines a settlement history dating back to pre-Roman times with a village centre that still has a medieval layout today. The village is an exclave of the former municipality of Curio, northwest of Curio, below Monte Lema and on the southeastern slope of Motto Croce. It lies at an altitude of approximately 588 m. Two distinct periods thus come together in Bombinasco: origins dating back to pre-Roman times and a medieval layout that is still evident today.

Oratory and Art History

The Oratorio della Santissima Trinità was built in 1670. It has a Baroque stucco main altar with a scagliola antependium, a work by Giuseppe Maria Pancaldi of Ascona. There is also a fresco dated 1810 on the right wall of the choir. The fresco was painted 140 years after the building was constructed. For travellers interested in art and history, the oratory brings together a building date and specific decorative details: the Baroque altar and the later-dated wall painting.

Finds and Earlier Settlement

Finds from the surrounding area add further clues from clearly distinct periods. In 1938, three tombs were found near Froda, along the Bombinasco–Astano road: one inhumation grave and two cremation graves. The two cremation graves were dated to the 2nd century AD based on their steatite urns.

The Sentiero del Parco Minerario del Malcantone

Bombinasco is the seventh point on the Sentiero del Parco Minerario del Malcantone. The trail was created to rediscover part of the mining history of this area. Evidence along the trail shows that the Celts who lived in the hills began extracting underground mineral resources at least 2,000 years ago. The mining history of Malcantone thus adds a regional perspective on the extraction of raw materials in the past to the local history, the tombs near Froda and the art in the oratory. Check the route details before setting out.

The Aurifodina in the Landscape

South of Bombinasco, the Aurifodina lies on a narrow, steep, wooded ridge. It is situated between the stream-cut valleys of Froda to the west and Val Grande, also known as Valle del Mulino, to the east. The village centre and the Aurifodina therefore have different geographical settings: here, the focus is on the medieval settlement layout; there, on the wooded ridge between two stream valleys. This landscape setting adds another perspective on mining to the historical dates.

Hiking Trails and the Laghetto in Neighbouring Astano

The neighbouring village of Astano borders the Bombinasco exclave. Numerous hiking trails through Malcantone start in Astano; it is also home to the small Laghetto, where swimming and fishing are possible. This presents two distinct focuses side by side: Bombinasco’s local and mining history, and the hiking trails and water activities in neighbouring Astano.

For the overview of the wider trip: Curio Ti.