Discover Sementina: Churches, wine and trails to the Tibetan Bridge

Sementina is a district of Bellinzona in the Swiss canton of Ticino. It lies at the mouth of the Sementina Valley, on the right bank of the Ticino River in the Magadino Plain. Travel plans can combine several interests: sacred architecture, wine tastings, and routes to historic fortifications, through the forest and to the Tibetan Bridge. You can tailor your stay to the things that interest you most while you’re there.

Churches, art and traces of the past

The parish church of San Michele in Sementina is a medieval building in the Romanesque style and is listed in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property. Above the main altar is a painting depicting Saint Michael battling the dragon.

Evidence of earlier settlement has also been preserved: archaeological finds in Sementina include Iron Age burial grounds and Roman artefacts. The village was first mentioned in a document in 1230 under the name Somentina. The Oratorio di San Defendente dates back to at least the 14th century and houses a 17th-century bell. The two buildings offer different points of interest for your trip: San Michele combines Romanesque architecture with an altarpiece, while the Oratorio di San Defendente is notable for its early date and its bell.

Wine tastings in Sementina

At Cantina Pizzorin, you can book guided winery tours and wine tastings. During the tour, you’ll learn about the cultivation and winemaking methods. There are two possible settings for the tasting: it can take place in the wine cellar or outdoors among the vineyards. As arrangements may change, confirm the booking and planned format in advance.

Azienda Mondò organises group tastings on request at its winery in the hills above Sementina. If you’re travelling as a group, factor in this request requirement when planning.

The Tibetan Bridge and trails

The 270-metre-long Carasc Tibetan Bridge crosses the rugged valley separating the municipalities of Monte Carasso and Sementina. One trail to the bridge passes the church of San Defendente on the hill above Sementina. If travelling from Sementina to access the bridge, the «Via Locarno» bus stop towards San Defendente is relevant; check the timetable before setting out.

Some of the Fortini della fame, 19th-century fortifications, can be seen in Camorino or on the opposite slope towards Sementina.

The hike from Sementina to Capanna Mognone starts at the Sementina, Via Locarno bus stop. It passes some of the 19th-century Fortini della fame, reaches Ramoli and then climbs through dense forest to the Monti della Costa. Another route to Capanna Mognone takes 2 hours and 15 minutes if you start at San Defendente on the road from Sementina. The Via Locarno stop is therefore relevant both as the starting point for the hike to Capanna Mognone and for accessing the bridge towards San Defendente.

Discover more destinations: Gorduno, Carasso, Cadenazzo, Bellinzona, Isone, Sant'antonio, Monte Carasso, Gnosca

Return to the main travel overview: Bellinzona.