The Grotti di Cama are natural cellars that have been used to store food since ancient times. As a significant complex of vernacular architecture, they reveal a distinctive side of the Moesa region. Guided tours of the complex are available through the Fondazione Cultura e Territorio di Cama. Three grotti are open to the public as restaurants; check tour availability and restaurant opening times in advance.
Cultural history in buildings and collections
Moesa lies in the Italian-speaking part of the canton of Graubünden and includes the Mesolcina and Calanca valleys. The Moesa River runs through both valleys, whose character is also shaped by their natural beauty and rural landscape. The Museo Moesano is housed in the historic Palazzo Viscardi in San Vittore. Its ethnographic exhibits include reconstructions of a traditional kitchen and bedroom.
A permanent exhibition at the museum is dedicated to the Magistri moesani: architects, master builders and artists who worked mainly abroad from the 16th to the 18th century. The educational and experimental archaeology laboratory is intended for school classes and adult groups. Participants can try working with tools and materials from the past. Ask the museum about programme availability.
The Castello di Mesocco also reaches far back into history: its origins date to the early Middle Ages. The castle is considered one of the most significant ruins in Graubünden and the largest in Switzerland. It can be visited free of charge every day throughout the year; check access conditions before your visit. In Santa Maria in Calanca, a medieval tower, the parish church first mentioned in 1219 and a hospice of the Capuchin Fathers shape the village landscape. A dense network of paved footpaths connects the stone buildings.
Along the Via San Bernardino, you will encounter archaeological remains, towers and castles, including the fortress of Mesocco, as well as Romanesque and Baroque churches. Villages are set on terraces or along the route. The ViaCalanca is a historic hiking trail from Grono to Rossa and follows official trails rated T1; connecting routes are T2. It is part of the «Kulturwege Schweiz» project, which enhances historic trails and helps preserve the cultural landscape.
Historic trails and different scales
A longer alpine route is the Sentiero Alpino Calanca: this 45 km, 36-hour high-altitude trail runs from San Bernardino Ospizio to Santa Maria in Calanca and is rated T3. Much of it passes above 2,000 m through slopes with rhododendrons and open larch forests. Along the way, there are mountain lakes and far-reaching views down into the valley; wildlife sightings are possible. The route is seasonal, with July to September as the recommended window. Check alpine conditions before setting out.
The Mulattiera from Selma to Landarenca offers a different perspective. Much of its historic fabric remains intact; a drainage channel is visible along large sections of the trail. The route, which is of national importance, is available year-round, is 2.20 km long and takes about an hour to walk. Here, too, you should check conditions before setting off.
Altitude, nature and seasons
In Val Calanca, elevations range from 502 m on the valley floor in the municipality of Buseno to 3,202 m at Puntone dei Fraciòn. These substantial differences in elevation contribute to the valley’s rich diversity of nature and wildlife. The Bedoleta natural forest reserve covers approximately 727 hectares, from 1,200 m up to the upper forest boundary at approximately 2,100 to 2,300 m. It is included in an inventory of landscapes of regional conservation importance. Pian di Alne, the alluvial landscape along the Calancasca River, is of national importance and is listed as an area of national importance for amphibian reproduction.
The activities available around San Bernardino change with the seasons: in winter, they include ski slopes; in summer, outdoor activities. The cross-country skiing area has more than 28 km of trails for classic and skating techniques. In summer, hiking, cycling and mountain biking are among the activities available at the San Bernardino Pass. From San Bernardino, you can reach Lagh Doss in less than an hour via several marked trails. In summer, swimming and water sports such as kayaking are possible there. The area beside the lake is listed in the inventory of raised bogs of national importance.
For public transport, PostAuto route 541 is relevant: it serves the S. Bernardino, Ospizio stop and runs every two hours towards Nufenen in summer. As this timetable information is seasonal and may change, check the timetable before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Braggio, San Bernardino, Cama, Roveredo, Santa Maria In Calanca, Soazza, Lostallo, Misox, San Vittore Gr, Castaneda Gr, Verdabbio, Rossa Gr, Selma.
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