Campo: Parish Church, Winter Sports and Mountain Trails

Campo lies at the entrance to the Val di Campo, a side valley of the upper Blenio Valley, on the Fiume d’Orsàira. The village, at about 1,215 metres, combines a long church history with winter sports and trails into the mountain landscape. Whether you are interested in architectural history, cross-country ski trails and slopes, or a route towards a mountain hut, you can choose different options for your stay.

Church history and landscape

At the entrance to Campo Blenio stands the parish church of Santi Maurizio e Agata. It is considered the oldest church in the Blenio Valley and is already mentioned in documents dating from 1225. The church was rebuilt at the end of the 16th century; precious paintings from the same late period are preserved inside. Its early mention and later rebuilding thus represent different chapters in its history.

Castellaccio also offers a historical point of reference: the ruins of an ancient tower are considered evidence of a presumably Roman camp at the Passo della Greina, a route towards Graubünden. Until 1890, Campo Blenio and Ghirone could only be reached via the mule track over the Sosto. This former access route is part of the area’s history and does not describe how to get there today.

When considering altitude, it is useful to distinguish between the village and the former municipal area: Campo lies at about 1,215 metres, while the former municipal area extended from 1,022 to 3,022 metres above sea level. It largely corresponded to the Val di Campo, a right-hand side valley of the upper Blenio Valley. At the head of the valley rise Pizzo del Corvo, at 3,015 metres, and La Bianca, at 2,893 metres. The village centre where it meets the main valley and the peaks at the valley’s end offer different perspectives on the landscape.

Winter sports for different activities and abilities

The small Campo Blenio winter sports area in the Val di Campo includes ski slopes, a cross-country ski trail and an ice rink, and is suitable for beginners and families. The areas in the ski resort vary in difficulty: at the bottom, a double-plate lift serves gentle slopes for beginners; the upper area is served by a ski lift and has somewhat more challenging slopes for intermediate skiers. This lets you choose an activity to suit whether you prefer gentle slopes or a more challenging descent.

Away from the slopes, the 4.5-kilometre cross-country ski trail runs from the Alneid plain to Pineta Saracino. There are three different destinations for snowshoe trails: an easy route across the Alneid plain, a trail to the Snack-bar Fopp-Zott, and a route through the Val di Campo to Capanna Bovarina. The destinations and the trail explicitly described as easy are distinct; the other trails are not therefore also classified as easy.

The 100-metre-long toboggan run is served by a moving carpet lift. There is also a refrigerated ice rink next to Bar Cupola, open for skating from December to March; skates are available to rent. As winter sports facilities may be available only seasonally, we recommend checking in advance which options are available during your trip.

Trails, mountain huts and surroundings

Sentiero di Campo Blenio 454 starts at the ski school, leads to Pineta Saracino and loops back to Campo Blenio via Ghirone. It runs through natural surroundings at the starting point of the trail to the Greina high plateau. For a hike to a different destination, the climb from Campo Blenio to Capanna Bovarina passes through forests, open meadows and quiet hamlets. The Val Camadra is the usual access route to Capanna Scaletta and leads directly from Campo Blenio towards Piz Medel. This information can help you find your way to the different destinations; check trail conditions before setting out.

Nearby Pineta Saracino in Ghirone has a covered picnic area, a bar, a grill and a large children’s playground. In summer, the Pineta offers a menu of local dishes and products from the valley, supplied by local businesses. Squirrels and wild animals live in the Pineta area; signs of roe deer, red deer and hares are often seen along the Brenno River. Wildlife sightings vary by season and are not guaranteed.

Plan your journey

By public transport, you can travel on bus line 62.131 from Biasca to Olivone, then take line 62.135 from Olivone to Campo Blenio. Check the current timetable before travelling. For travel by car, the described route runs from the Biasca exit on the A2 towards Lukmanier to Olivone, then continues towards Campo Blenio–Ghirone. For this journey too, it is advisable to check the current route and road conditions in advance.

Discover more destinations: Aquila, Dangio, Torre, Anzano.

View the overview of the wider area: Blenio.