Borgonovo: Giacometti trails and San Giorgio

Borgonovo is a peaceful village at 1,027 m above sea level, just above Stampa. Houses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries line the main road, with small gardens and traditional stables in between. Together, they shape the village’s architectural character. Two different perspectives offer ways to explore it: trails connected with the Giacometti family, and the architectural and artistic history of San Giorgio.

Trails connected with the Giacometti family

The Sentiero Giacometti runs from Borgonovo and San Giorgio via Creista, Samarovan, Coltura, San Pietro and Palü to Stampa. It traces the artistic paths of the Giacometti family. The guided Giacometti trail is different: It usually starts in Borgonovo and ends in Stampa. Participants walk about 1.5 km along an easy, level path. If you are interested in the guided tour, check the dates in advance; details may change.

The Giacometti Photo Trail follows a different route: It leads from Coltura via Stampa to Alberto Giacometti’s grave in the San Giorgio cemetery near Borgonovo. The final two stops are at San Giorgio Church. To compare the guided tour and the Photo Trail, consider their endpoints: The guided trail usually ends in Stampa; the Photo Trail leads to the grave in the cemetery near Borgonovo.

Another route is the Via Bregaglia. After another stretch through the forest, it reaches Borgonovo’s old houses. It then runs for a while along the left side of the valley and beside the main road. The Via Bregaglia can be reached by public transport; check current connections before travelling.

San Giorgio and the Giacometti family

San Giorgio is a simple Late Gothic Protestant church. It was first mentioned in documents around 1327 and rebuilt in 1694. Inside is a famous stained-glass window by Augusto Giacometti. The graves of Giovanni, Alberto, Diego and Augusto Giacometti are in the adjoining cemetery. The dates refer to different events: around 1327 is the first mention, while 1694 marks the rebuilding.

Culture in Stampa and Coltura

Nearby Stampa is home to the Ciäsa Granda valley museum, housed in a manor house built in 1581. It covers the flora, fauna and geology of the Bregaglia Valley, as well as the traditional way of life of the valley’s population. Works by these artists are displayed in the Giacometti-Varlin room. The museum’s scope therefore extends beyond art to natural history and the history of life in the valley.

In Coltura, you can visit Palazzo Castelmur. Its northern section dates from 1723; Baron Giovanni Castelmur had the southern section built between 1850 and 1855. The building includes extensive gardens and the valley’s historical archive. Its different construction phases give the palazzo a distinct place in the region’s architectural history.

Discover more destinations: Promontogno.

Go to the main travel overview: Bregaglia.