Ludiano: Grape Harvest, Churches and Historic Trails

Ludiano combines a strong connection to the grape harvest with church architecture and historic trails. If you are looking for a hotel in Ludiano, these highlights can help guide your travel plans: an annual festival takes place on specific dates, while the churches and routes offer their own themes for a stay. The village is in the lower Blenio Valley, on the western bank of the Brenno.

Grape Harvest and the Cat’Mutal Press

The Festa del Torchio takes place annually near the Cat’Mutal press and celebrates the grape harvest. Dates and programme may vary from year to year. If the festival is the reason for your trip, check the dates and programme for your chosen year in advance.

The press belongs to the Patriziato di Ludiano. Its lever is about ten metres long, and it is one of the largest presses in the canton of Ticino. The year 1756 is engraved on the press. It is also one of the few presses in the canton that is still in operation. It is used every year during the grape harvest. Its size, inscription and seasonal use give Ludiano’s grape-harvest theme different historical and practical points of reference.

Churches and Architectural History

The Chiesa di San Secondo in Ludiano is a Baroque building dating from 1780 and is reached by a staircase. It contains paintings by Lorenzo Peretti di Buttogno from Val Vigezzo, including scenes from the life of the patron saint. The date of construction and the subjects of the paintings are two distinct aspects of this church.

The Chiesa di San Pietro in Motto di Dongio is located within the territory of Ludiano and belongs to the parish of Dongio. It is first mentioned in 1424; the present building dates from the 13th century and is Romanesque. The first mention and the dating of the present structure are different dates. Features of the east-facing building include a semicircular apse and a continuous sawtooth frieze.

The Oratorio di San Giacomo in Selvapiana, known as Sa’ Jàcum, also has a connection to an older building: it was built on the remains of a former oratory dating back at least to the first half of the 16th century.

Trails, a Circular Route and Grotti

The Giro del Castello di Serravalle first crosses the Brenno river and then leads through the village of Ludiano. The trail also passes through a chestnut forest on its way up to the ruined settlement of Selvapiana. The ancient footpaths Grotti–Selvapiana–Valè–Navone–Scarp are listed in the inventory as historic transport routes of regional and local importance.

Along the Giro del Castello are traditional, rustic grotti in secluded, shady spots. In the past, they were used to keep cheese, meat and wine cool; today, they serve as restaurants offering local produce and wine. Opening hours may vary from one grotto to another.

The Salamandra Vagabonda treasure hunt requires an app download. The marked circular route is 5.4 kilometres long, includes about 393 metres of elevation gain and takes approximately two hours. Before making plans, check whether the treasure hunt is available during your travel dates and whether the app is ready to download.

Landscape within the Municipality

In the Ludiano area within the municipality of Serravalle, wooded slopes rise gently westward towards the 2,172-metre-high Matro and the 2,417-metre-high Pizzo Erra. Northeast of Ludiano, the peaks of Cima di Piancabella reach 2,671 metres and Cima di Gana Bianca 2,842 metres. On the western mountain slope, the original mountain forest consists of 69 per cent Norway spruce, 22 per cent larch, and 9 per cent chestnut, beech and birch. The different elevations also have different forest types: deciduous forests dominate up to about 1,000 metres above sea level, mixed forests between 1,000 and 1,300 metres, and coniferous forests from 1,300 metres upwards.

Discover more destinations: Ghirone, Semione, Blenio, Acquarossa, Acquacalda, Prugiasco, Lottigna, Olivone.

Go to the main travel overview: Blenio.