Maggia: Discover Hiking Trails and Churches

Maggia offers a range of options for a stay: hiking trails and specific routes sit alongside historic churches and chapels. To help you decide, consider both the route length and terrain as well as the cultural sites that match your interests.

Hiking Routes and Trail Profiles

Around 250 km of hiking trails run through the Maggia area. The Sentiero naturalistico lungo le golene del fiume Maggia is 15 km long and passes through some of Switzerland’s most valuable natural habitats. The Sentieri di pietra in Maggia take you through distinctive landscapes and historical and cultural features, and are promoted by Vallemaggia Pietraviva.

The Giro della Valle del Salto (SvizzeraMobile 611) is an 8.8 km circular route that starts in the historic center of Maggia. It follows a long climb to the Santa Maria della Pioda chapel and into the wild section of the Valle del Salto. At 8.8 km, the Giro is shorter than the 15 km Sentiero naturalistico; its climb also sets it apart in terms of terrain.

The Itinerari da ascoltare – La Vallemaggia circular route starts and ends in Maggia, is flat, and passes through Lodano and Moghegno. It is accessible to wheelchair users and to people with visual impairments when accompanied. This gives it a different trail profile from the Giro, with its long climb. When choosing, you can consider both the terrain and the places named along the route.

Churches and Chapels

The Church of San Maurizio is considered the oldest church in Vallemaggia and has Romanesque origins dating back to the 11th century. It is reached by an impressive staircase with 100 steps. Two chapels feature rich stucco and painted decoration attributed to the workshop of Isidoro Bianchi da Campione in the 17th century.

The Cappella della Pioda is about half an hour’s walk uphill from Maggia and contains several frescoes. One of them may date from the late 15th century. A fresco considered blasphemous depicts a three-headed Christ and is dated to around 1715. These two dates refer to different works and should be understood with their respective degrees of precision.

Vallemaggia and Getting There

Vallemaggia stretches between Lake Maggiore and the Lepontine Alps. The Maggia River runs through the valley and, through erosion, has created picturesque canyons and natural pools in some places. In the wider region, you can enjoy walks, hikes, bike rides, and swimming in the Maggia River. These activities give an impression of the valley’s variety, while the routes and cultural sites described here offer specific points of interest in Maggia.

You can reach Maggia Centro from Locarno railway station by taking bus NFB 315 in the direction of Cavergno, Paese. As bus routes and timetables may change, check the connection before travelling. This lets you factor the journey into your plans before choosing between the different trail profiles and cultural themes.

Discover more destinations: Riveo, Moghegno, Gordevio, Piano Di Peccia, Cerentino, Bosco/Gurin, Menzonio, Avegno Ti

For the regional travel overview: Vallemaggia.