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The Negrentino San Carlo Romanesque church

Hiking Trail recommended route

The Negrentino San Carlo Romanesque church

Hiking Trail · Bellinzona and Valleys
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  • The Negrentino San Carlo Romanesque church
    The Negrentino San Carlo Romanesque church
    Photo: Bellinzona e Valli Turismo
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    Fall in love with an excursion combining nature, art, culture and tradition. The excursion takes you to the Romanesque church of San Carlo in Negrentino, a treasure that is guaranteed to charm you.

    moderate
    Distance 1.9 km
    0:35 h
    8 m
    259 m
    877 m
    618 m

    Discover the picturesque village of Leontica and the popular festival dedicated to its patron saint. Cover the path taking you toward the church and enjoy for a moment the beautiful panorama when you arrive: the wide valley floor and the majestic surrounding mountains.

    The (11th Century) Negrentino Romanesque church of San Carlo, is located on the old Nara mule-track, and richly deserves a visit. It is indeed one of the most remarkable in Ticino, renowned thanks to its stunning architectural layout as well as its precious Romanesque and late-Gothic frescoes.

     

    The excursion starts in Leontica, a traditional and secluded village, which is enlivened every year by the popular festival dedicated to its patron saint (on the 24th of June, or the closest Sunday). Not to be missed, if you have the chance, is the traditional historical soldiers' parade. History has it that the tradition follows a vow made by people from valley Blenio valley who took part in the Russian campaign with Napoleon's armies. They promised that if they were saved, they would honour their patron saint by establishing a symbolic army.

     

    After having picked up the keys of the church that can be found in Acquarossa at the Ristorante Stazione, Ristorante Valsole or Ristorante Rubino, you start walking, through the green pastures, along the road which takes you to the Nara car park, from where you can follow the well-signed path which after an initial incline takes you down to Negrentino. A footbridge has recently been built permitting visitors easier and safer access to the church. Once you have reached the church, you can stop to admire the beauty of not only the church itself, but stunning panorama as well, which opens towards the valley floor and the majestic surrounding mountains. The path carries on downward following a signed path toward Prugiasco. Here, at the foot of the downhill section, you can take the bus to go back or you can stay a bit more for a brief, but rewarding, visit to the parish church of Sant'Ambrogio, built in 1700.

    Author’s recommendation

    To explore the route, we recommend buying the official maps of the Federal Office of Topography Swisstopo.

    In addition, the following website map.geo.admin.ch offers constantly updated data.

    Profile picture of Bellinzonese e Alto Ticino Turismo
    Author
    Bellinzonese e Alto Ticino Turismo
    Update: December 07, 2022
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Experience
    Landscape
    Highest point
    877 m
    Lowest point
    618 m
    Best time of year
    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
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    Jun
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    Track types

    Asphalt 30.10%Path 57.52%Road 12.37%
    Asphalt
    0.6 km
    Path
    1.1 km
    Road
    0.2 km
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    Rest stops

    Ristorante La Pernice, (Bike Friendly)
    Capanna Gorda (Bike friendly)
    Ristorante Rubino Megabello (Bike friendly)
    BP service station, (Bike Friendly)

    Tips and suggestions

    A more challenging and steeper hill route can be climbed by following the path from Prugiasco towards the Negrentino church. This path allows you to admire from far below the beautiful architecture of the apses and the bell tower. If you prefer a longer itinerary, you can start from Acquarossa heading towards Prugiasco, with a stop in Negrentino, returning to Comprovasco via Leontica.

     

    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

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    Public transport

    Public-transport-friendly

    Coordinates

    SwissGrid
    2'714'101E 1'146'004N
    DD
    46.455657, 8.923868
    DMS
    46°27'20.4"N 8°55'25.9"E
    UTM
    32T 494153 5144679
    w3w 
    ///clings.shocking.beaks
    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

    • Leontica - Pozza del Felice
    • Historical path number 1 - Historical trail of the middle and lower Blenio Valley (right bank)
    • Historical path number 2 - Negrentino Historic Trail
    • Historical path number 3 - Historic footpath of the middle and lower Blenio Valley
    • Alpi del Nara Excursion
     These suggestions were generated by our system
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Distance
    1.9 km
    Duration
    0:35 h
    Ascent
    8 m
    Descent
    259 m
    Highest point
    877 m
    Lowest point
    618 m
    Public-transport-friendly Family-friendly Cultural/historical interest

    Weather at the route's trailhead

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