The Church of Sant’Ambrogio stands on a hillside below Cademario, with views from there stretching across the Gulfs of Lugano and Agno. Many of the trails described also link the hilly landscape with views of the lake, peaks and valleys. You can tailor your stay to your interests: go for a hike, visit a historic building or take a gravel bike ride.
Hiking trails with different highlights
The Sentiero dei filosofi starts near the “Cademario, Lisone” bus stop. It is considered easy to walk and well signposted, and leads through the natural amphitheatre formed by Monte Gradiccioli. Along the way, it passes Piano del Caroggio, a small clearing in the Magliasina Valley surrounded by chestnut forests. If you are travelling by public transport, check the connections before setting off.
The Cademario–Magliaso hike runs between hills and the lake and offers views of the Alps. For this tour, travel by train to Lugano and then take PostBus 422 to Cademario. Parking for the hike is available at Kurhaus Cademario. From Cademario, views extend over Lake Lugano and the peaks from Monte Lema to Gradiccioli.
A tour description published in 2014 takes the Cademario–Agra–Cademario route north around Monte Cervello to Laghetto di Agra. The return to the starting point follows an old downhill path. Check trail conditions locally. Alpe Agra is also home to two ponds created to protect amphibians.
For the Cademario–Aranno route, the same brochure describes a trail over Montaccio and a forest track to Aranno. It is possible to return towards Cademario via the path via Forcora. The Chiesetta di San Bernardo makes a worthwhile detour along this route; from there, views open up across much of Medio Malcantone and the Vedeggio Valley. Check access conditions locally.
Sant’Ambrogio and local history
The old Romanesque Church of Sant’Ambrogio was originally Cademario’s parish church and was built between the 11th and 12th centuries. It is considered one of the oldest churches in the Canton of Ticino and is mentioned in a will dating from 1387. The restored building preserves Romanesque and late Gothic frescoes depicting the Revelation of the Word, Hell and the Last Judgement. Traces of decorative artwork have also been preserved in the Romanesque apse.
The present-day parish church was originally dedicated to Santa Maria del Popolo and has been dedicated to Saint Ambrose since 1833. Its façade features an 18th-century fresco depicting the Assumption of Mary. Together with the older Sant’Ambrogio, the church offers different perspectives on the town’s religious and artistic history.
The S.S. Francesco e Chiara Monastery is also one of the local cultural sites. It was founded in 1992 by the S. Maria di Monteluce Monastery in S. Erminio near Perugia. The monastery chapel can be visited at any time during the day.
Spa and tours on two wheels
The DOT SPA at Kurhaus Cademario covers 2,200 m². It welcomes external visitors as well as hotel guests. As visitor arrangements may change, it is best to check before your visit.
The “Malcantone hills gravel bike tour – Short” runs uphill from Bioggio to Cademario and through the vineyards of Ronchi. One of the eight information panels along the route is in Cademario. The panels provide historical, cultural and nature-related information about places along the route. Another described tour, “Monte Tamaro – Up and down to the lake”, descends through Arosio and Cademario before reaching the lakeshore between Magliaso and Agno.
Discover more destinations: Rivera Ti, Lamone, Sonvico, Magliaso, Croglio, Massagno, Melano, Roveredo.
For the overview of the wider area: Lugano.
