Campo is a scattered, high-altitude Alpine village at the end of a side valley in Vallemaggia, Ticino. Clear Alpine lakes, light larch forests and gneiss peaks shape the landscape. Trails and buildings also reveal the area’s geological history and cultural heritage in different ways.
Hiking among soapstone and Alpine landscapes
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 stated walking time is about four hours and 30 minutes; the actual duration depends on conditions and your pace. Allow enough time for this trail. It follows in the footsteps of craftspeople from earlier times and explores the geological, historical and cultural aspects of soapstone—so the hiking theme goes beyond working with the stone.
Other Alpine destinations offer their own highlights: the climb to Pizzo Bombögn reaches an altitude of 2,331 metres. The ascent to Alpe Sfille is singled out as a worthwhile waypoint; three Alpine lakes lie there. Alpine conditions can vary, so check them before setting out. In Cort Zora, you can also see a large stable building, constructed towards the end of the 19th century and restored in 1997.
Nature and landscape also come together along the trail near Campo. The route includes a water biotope fed by a stream and one of the 28 above-ground water drainage channels. Built in the last century, the channels were intended to stop the well-known landslide movement. This offers a different perspective on the landscape from the Alpine lakes and gneiss peaks: here, the focus is on water management and how the terrain is used.
Church, chapels and soapstone buildings
Campo’s parish church is a monument of cantonal importance. Most of its most valuable frescoes were painted by G.M. Borgnis da Craveggia between 1732 and 1748. Clearly visible marks on the church also recall the geological movement that affected its stability. The Linescio–Campo Vallemaggia hike ends at this building.
The religious heritage also includes the Way of the Cross, with eleven chapels. Built around 1760 at the initiative of Campo’s families, they were decorated with frescoes by an unknown painter. Beside the Palazzo Pedrazzini stands the Baroque Oratorio dell’Addolorata, built in 1768 and long a place of great symbolic value in Campo’s history.
Soapstone features not only on the educational trail: at the Palazzo Pedrazzini, the large portals, window frames, outdoor benches and blocks bearing the benefactors’ initials are made of this material. S’cèda offers another glimpse into the history of settlement: this abandoned district has houses, stables, torbe and an oratory decorated with frescoes by Pedrazzi. S’cèda was permanently inhabited until the first decades of the 20th century, after which the district 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 a testament to the centuries-old relationship between people and nature that has shaped this landscape. Both details add further facets of rural heritage to the history of the churches and settlements.
Plan your hike and return journey
The Linescio–Campo Vallemaggia hike and the Sentiero della pietra ollare differ in their described focus: one ends at the parish church, while the other explores the traces of soapstone working. Check local conditions before hiking the routes and heading to the high-altitude destinations mentioned here. The stated duration of the soapstone trail is a guideline, not a fixed walking time.
For the return journey from Campo Vallemaggia, the suggested route is bus 332 to Cerentino, followed by bus 331 to Cevio, Posta. Check connections before travelling, as routes and timetables may change.
Discover more destinations: Piano Di Peccia, Cerentino, Menzonio, Lodano, Bosco/Gurin, Maggia, Linescio, Avegno Ti.
For the wider travel guide: Vallemaggia.
