Campo: Frescoes, Soapstone Trail and Alpine Landscape

Campo is a scattered, high-altitude Alpine village at the end of a side valley of Vallemaggia in Ticino. Its landscape includes clear Alpine lakes, open larch forests and impressive gneiss peaks. If you are looking for a hotel in Campo, you can plan your trip around the Alpine landscape and its trails, or the traces of the area’s history.

Hiking trails and Alpine route-finding

The Sentiero della pietra ollare is almost 12 kilometres long and runs between Campo Vallemaggia, at an altitude of 1,280 metres, and Alpe di Magnello, at 1,810 metres. The hike takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes; the actual duration depends on conditions and your pace. The trail follows in the footsteps of artisans from the past and explores geological, historical and cultural aspects of soapstone. It thus combines a specific time estimate with the history and characteristics of the material.

A climb to Pizzo Bombögn reaches an altitude of 2,331 metres. In 1948, a monumental wall about 300 metres long was built on the mountain to keep goats away from the cultivated area. There are three Alpine lakes at Alpe Sfille; the climb there is considered a worthwhile stop along the way. Before setting out on Alpine climbs, check the conditions.

Church, chapels and architectural history

The parish church of Campo is a monument of cantonal importance. Most of its valuable frescoes were painted by G. M. Borgnis da Craveggia between 1732 and 1748. The Way of the Cross includes eleven chapels, built around 1760 at the initiative of Campo’s families and decorated with frescoes by an unknown painter.

The Baroque Oratorio dell’Addolorata was built in 1768 beside the Pedrazzini palaces. It has always held great symbolic value in Campo’s history. The palaces feature large portals, window frames, outdoor benches and blocks made of soapstone bearing the initials of their benefactors. Together, the buildings and their details offer different insights into local architecture and art history.

Traces of village life in the past

The abandoned village quarter of S’cèda comprises houses, stables, torben and an oratory with frescoes by Pedrazzi. The quarter was permanently inhabited until the first decades of the 20th century, after which it was completely abandoned. Access to individual buildings may be restricted.

Rural buildings can be found at Corte Nuovo. The farmsteads at Alpe Quadrella are considered evidence of the centuries-old relationship between people and nature that shaped this landscape. Cort Zora is also home to a large stable building, built towards the end of the 19th century and restored in 1997. These examples differ in function and date, offering a broader view of rural architectural history.

Landscape and trail route

The Linescio–Campo Vallemaggia hike ends at Campo’s church. Clear traces of the geological movement that affected the church’s stability are still visible there. The trail near Campo also includes a water biotope fed by a stream and one of the 28 above-ground water diversion channels built over the past century. The channel was intended to halt the well-known landslide movement.

The return route from Cimalmotto to Campo Vallemaggia is a walk through a larch forest, following watercourses along the slope. For the return journey from Campo Vallemaggia, take bus 332 via Cerentino, then bus 331 at Cevio, Posta. Check connections and timetables before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Gordevio, Cavergno, Menzonio, Maggia, Piano Di Peccia, Avegno Ti, Lavizzara, Brontallo

For the main travel overview: Vallemaggia.