Aquila is a locality in the municipality of Blenio in Ticino. It lies in the Valle di Blenio at an altitude of about 789 metres above sea level, on the western slope of the Colma and on the left bank of the Brenno. Aquila is also on the road from Biasca to Olivone, 19 kilometres north of Biasca railway station on the Gotthard Railway. This location in the valley provides a clear point of reference for a stay, with local history, cultural heritage and trails through the mountain landscape offering different points of focus.
Landscape and elevations
A section of the Greina high plateau, known nationally for its exceptional natural and scenic value, lies within Aquila’s patriziate territory. The Gorda alpine pasture in Aquila is also still in use. The high plateau and working alpine pasture thus offer contrasting facets of the landscape alongside the town’s location on the Brenno.
Another elevation reference is the Capanna Gorda: it lies at 1,800 metres above sea level on an extensive pasture above the houses of Monti di Gorda. The hut is accessible by road and is a starting point for several hikes. By contrast, the Capanna Adula Utoe lies at the foot of Cima della Negra and serves as an access point to the Ghiacciaio di Bresciana. The onward route leads to a summit at 3,402 metres. When planning routes and mountain access, it is worth checking the latest conditions and access information.
Trails through the Valle di Blenio
The Sentiero storico numero 4, the historic trail of the middle and upper Valle di Blenio, runs from Acquarossa to Olivone. It follows mainly the lower trail on the left bank of the Brenno. The Via Francisca del Lucomagno follows a different described route: it passes through Ponto Aquilesco and Aquila before continuing to the former Cima Norma factory in Dangio. The two trails can be distinguished by their stated reference points: for the Sentiero storico, these are its endpoints and the riverbank; for the Via Francisca, they are the places along the route and its destination in Dangio.
Churches and art history
The parish church of San Vittore Mauro brings together several building phases. It is documented in records from 1213 and 1230; the present late Baroque building was constructed between 1728 and 1730 on the old walls of its predecessor. Three arches and a lunette dating from 1502, remnants of the earlier Romanesque church, are visible on the exterior. The main façade was decorated with frescoes in 1732 by the local painter Carlo Biucchi. The same church thus preserves evidence from different centuries side by side.
The Oratorio S. Maria delle Grazie, also called della Beata Vergine al Riale, stands on elevated ground above the village of Aquila. It preserves a 16th-century fresco of the Virgin Mary; the ceiling fresco of the Assumption is attributed to Giovanni Degiorgi of Aquila. The history of the Oratorio di S. Caterina in Ponto Aquilesco dates back to its first mention in 1567; the oratory was enlarged in 1613. The nave contains rustic frescoes from 1615, while the choir frescoes from 1578 are attributed to the Tarilli family of Cureglia.
Historic houses also preserve frescoes dating from the 15th to the 18th centuries. The hamlets and settlement centres contain oratories with furnishings from the 16th and 17th centuries. Designated cultural assets include the Oratorio di S. Antonio in Pinadee and the fresco in Casa Giamboni, both of cantonal importance. The circular lime kiln on the road to Olivone is designated as a cultural asset of local importance. Grumarone is also home to the Ponte Romano: built in 1461, it is one of the oldest surviving stone arch bridges of its kind in Switzerland.
Tradition and craftsmanship
The Milizia della Madonna del Rosario appears in Aquila on the first Sunday of July each year. Its origins date back to the 19th century and are connected with the establishment of the Helvetic Republic and the Napoleonic Wars. If you are interested in this recurring event, you can plan your trip around the first Sunday in July and check the specific event date.
A local craft tradition is also part of the town’s history: Federico Bruni (1946) described Aquila as the “cradle of Blenio chocolatiers”. These craftspeople initially specialised in processing cocoa with the Prea, a grinding stone; later, they developed into industrialists in the chocolate industry. The description thus refers to a historical evolution from artisanal processing to industrial chocolate production.
Discover more destinations: Torre, Dangio, Campo, Anzano.
For the regional travel overview: Blenio.
