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San Pietro in Motto di Dongio

Hiking Trail recommended route

San Pietro in Motto di Dongio

Hiking Trail · Bellinzona and Valleys
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  • San Pietro in Motto di Dongio
    San Pietro in Motto di Dongio
    Photo: Bellinzona e Valli Turismo, Bellinzona e Valli Turismo
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    This itinerary is set in val di Blenio and consists of a short and easy walk in the area around Dongio revealing several interesting features of architectural interest.

    easy
    Distance 5.9 km
    2:30 h
    60 m
    60 m
    497 m
    441 m

    The starting point is the church of San Pietro at Motto di Dongio. Set in an isolated spot in the countryside the church it is easy to locate from a distance. After visiting this Romanesque monument take the path towards San Remigio di Corzoneso which winds along the river bank, at times passing over country roads. After about half an hour you come to the oratory of San Martino Viduale, where a monastery/hospice is thought to have existed at one time; a further 10 minutes and you come to Boscero, a part of Corzoneso, site of the Romanesque oratory of San Remigio. It has preserved frescoes from different eras (13thC to 15thC) as well as an interesting stucco altar. After another 5 minutes' walk you cross the river and turn back towards Dongio. Many of Dangio's inhabitants emigrated to France and England and some of them made their fortune abroad returning home to build themselves elegant houses which stand along the roadside and in the piazza.

    With the help of binoculars you can just make out the mysterious «houses of the pagans» on the mountainside. These were hollowed out of the rock around the year 1000, probably for defence purposes. However not even extensive archaeological research has revealed a satisfactory reason for these constructions set in such inaccessible spots.

    The late baroque church in the village is dedicated to saints Fiorenzo and Luca and was built by Giuseppe Stella from Milan to replace the former parish church which was destroyed by a landslide in 1758. There are also several private 'grottoes' in Dongio, that can be seen from the path that runs behind the village at the foot of the mountain; these were used as natural cool cave cellars during the summer months.

    Follow the sign for «sentiero basso» which starts from the Municipio. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the centre of Marogno, and a further 10 to reach the church of Santa Maria and finally San Pietro.

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    Author
    Bellinzona e Valli Turismo
    Update: March 14, 2025
    Difficulty
    easy
    Overall difficulty
    easy

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Experience
    Landscape
    Highest point
    497 m
    Lowest point
    441 m
    Best time of year
    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
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    Track types

    Asphalt 43.90%Forested/wild trail 36.22%Path 7.69%Road 12.18%
    Asphalt
    2.6 km
    Forested/wild trail
    2.1 km
    Path
    451 m
    Road
    714 m
    Show elevation profile

    Tips and suggestions

    Montagnepulite: This project was born to promote an effective management and sustainable use of mountain huts in Ticino, and in particular the litter management. The responsible management of litter in the mountains is a matter of common sense. We can all contribute: www.montagnepulite.ch

    Coordinates

    SwissGrid
    2'717'750E 1'143'026N
    DD
    46.428238, 8.970605
    DMS
    46°25'41.7"N 8°58'14.2"E
    UTM
    32T 497741 5141629
    w3w 
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    Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

    Equipment

    • Hiking boots
    • Sun cap
    • Water-bottle
    • Sunglasses
    • Sun cream
    • Hiking map
    • Camera
    • Food

    Similar routes nearby

    • Giro del Castello di Serravalle (SwitzerlandMobility 626)
    • Circuito Dongio-Satro (SwitzerlandMobility 652)
    • Circuito Dongio-Motto (SwitzerlandMobility 651)
    • The pearls of the Malvaglia Valley
    • Celtic Trail in Malvaglia Valley
     These suggestions were generated by our system
    Difficulty
    easy
    Overall difficulty
    easy

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Distance
    5.9 km
    Duration
    2:30 h
    Ascent
    60 m
    Descent
    60 m
    Highest point
    497 m
    Lowest point
    441 m
    Round trip Family-friendly Cultural/historical interest Dog-friendly

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    10-day forecast

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