Bellinzona and Valleys
Bellinzona and Valleys is a tourism region in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland, stretching from the medieval capital of Bellinzona up into the high Alpine valleys of the Leventina, the Blenio Valley, and the Riviera. The region combines an urban, historic centre around the city of Bellinzona with a largely rural, mountainous hinterland of deep valleys, alpine passes and peaks rising above 3,000 metres. It is crossed by the Ticino river and its tributaries, and dotted with alpine lakes, waterfalls and gorges rather than dominated by a single large lake. The area is rich in history and culture, centred on the UNESCO-listed Fortress of Bellinzona, Romanesque churches, museums and living traditions such as the Rabadan carnival. Bellinzona, the capital of the canton of Ticino, lies at the heart of the region and acts as its main hub, while the surrounding valleys offer extensive networks of hiking and mountain-bike trails, outdoor adventure sports and a strong gastronomic identity of grotti, wines and local produce.
Summer activities
Summer in Bellinzona and Valleys is defined by outdoor adventure and nature. A dense network of over 1,600 km of marked trails crosses the Leventina, Blenio Valley, Riviera and Bellinzonese, from easy family walks to demanding Alpine traverses and peaks above 3,000 metres, with alpine lakes and waterfalls for cooling off. The region is a renowned destination for mountain biking and road cycling, including the legendary Tremola climb to the Gotthard Pass, as well as for bouldering on the famous boulders of Chironico and Cresciano, rock climbing on the world's longest artificial wall at the Luzzone dam, and canyoning, canoeing and rafting in the gorges of the Riviera. Cable cars and funiculars such as the steep Ritom line open up the high valleys, while paragliding take-offs offer panoramic flights over the fortress and the Alps.
Winter activities
Winter in Bellinzona and Valleys offers a full range of snow sports across several ski areas. Alpine skiing and snowboarding are available at resorts such as Airolo-Pesciüm, Carì and Nara, with family-friendly slopes at Cioss Prato, Airolo-Lüina, Prato Leventina, Dalpe and Campo Blenio, plus Swiss ski schools and the ticinopass covering all Ticino resorts. Cross-country skiing is a highlight, with classic and skating trails at Bedretto, Prato Leventina, Dalpe, Campo Blenio and the sunny Campra plateau at 1,500 metres. Sledding runs at Nara and Carì, snowshoe and winter walking trails, and ice rinks and curling at Ambrì, Biasca, Bellinzona and Faido round out the winter offer.
Culture and entertainment
Culture is a defining feature of Bellinzona and Valleys, anchored by the UNESCO-listed Fortress of Bellinzona with its three castles, walls and museums, which also host exhibitions and events. The region offers a rich cultural life with numerous museums of art, history, ethnography and science, Romanesque churches and monuments, a theatre, and living traditions such as the Rabadan carnival and the historical Napoleonic militia parades, both listed among Switzerland's living traditions. A lively calendar of festivals, open-air concerts, gastronomic events and markets punctuates the year.
