In Croglio, church and village history meet a trail that reveals traces of past human activity in the landscape around Castelrotto. Visitors choosing to stay here will find a range of highlights: historic buildings, a walk with a specific walking time, and a long history of winegrowing. In the Swiss ISOS inventory, Croglio is classified as a hamlet or small village of local importance.
Churches and village history
In Castelrotto, a district of Croglio, the church of San Nazaro was first mentioned in 1301. It acquired its present form around the middle of the 17th century; the bell tower dates from 1677. Its features include a Baroque high altar with stucco and marble from the 18th century, as well as a statue of the Assumption created in 1690 by Antonio Camuzzi of Montagnola. The church and its forecourt are classified as cultural assets of cantonal importance.
The church of San Bartolomeo in Croglio is also classified as a cultural asset of cantonal importance. The Romanesque church preserves signed frescoes in the apse, dated to 1440. Beside the figure of Saint Anthony the Great is a bell bearing the date 1366. The name Castelrotto is linked to the destruction of a castle in the 12th century; it stood on the site of today's church.
The Tracce d'uomo trail
The Tracce d'uomo trail runs around Castelrotto in the Tresa Valley through a scenic landscape. It starts at the Centro scolastico LĂĽsc and follows a mule track. Allow approximately two hours on foot for the roughly four-kilometre route, not including stops. Along the way, the trail passes a washbasin and the old Fontana dei Terrieri, dating from 1850, before reaching Castelrotto's village square.
The stops tell the story of how the landscape was used in the past. The route reaches a caseificio, or dairy, which operated from 1886 to 1942. The Giazzera along the trail was built in 1875 and remained in use until around 1910. Snow was pressed into the roughly four-metre-deep snow pit to store meat and dairy products. Another trace of the past is the Roccolo, built at the end of the 18th century for hunting migratory birds. A short detour there offers the chance to take a barbecue break.
The trail also passes through Mirabell forest and Nisciora, known for its panorama; the return route runs through chestnut groves. Merlot vineyards also line the route to Ronco, a district of Croglio. Keys for the caseificio, Giazzera and Roccolo are available from the Croglio municipal office. Check in advance whether they will be available during your visit.
Winegrowing and art
The historic Tenuta Vallombrosa in Castelrotto is considered the birthplace of Merlot in Ticino and is now called Tenuta Tamborini-Castelrotto. Giovanni Rossi is credited with bringing Merlot to Ticino in the early 20th century. One specific detail of the area's winegrowing history is the Silenzio vineyard: a total of 10,500 Merlot vines were planted there on an area of about 1.2 hectares.
Another art and wine destination is the Art-&Wine-Relais Vallombrosa in Castelrotto. Its park features an approximately two-kilometre art trail where visitors can view 20 works of contemporary art. Check before your visit whether you can take part.
Trails and getting there
As an alternative to the trail, the Tresa Bike No. 353 mountain bike route is signposted. Marked as a one-way route, it runs from Ponte Tresa via Pura and Castelrotto and back to Ponte Tresa. To get there, Castelrotto can be reached from Ponte Tresa via the road along the Tresa River. Croglio is connected to Ponte Tresa and Magliaso by postal bus; Ponte Tresa, in turn, can be reached from Lugano by train. Check the timetable for your chosen connection before setting out.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Castelrotto, Bedigliora, Vernate Ti, Brusino Arsizio, Muzzano, Curio Ti, Melide, Sorengo.
For the main travel overview: Lugano.
