Discover Aquila: Trails and Cultural Heritage in Valle di Blenio

Aquila is a locality in the municipality of Blenio in Ticino, in the Blenio district. It lies at around 789 metres above sea level in Valle di Blenio, on the western slope of Colma and on the left bank of the Brenno River. Aquila is also located on the road from Biasca to Olivone. Alpine trails and historic architecture offer different ways to experience a stay in Aquila. The locality was first mentioned in documents in 1196.

Mountain scenery and hiking routes

Part of the Greina high plateau, known nationally for its exceptional natural and landscape values, lies within Aquila’s patrician territory. The alpine pasture of Gorda in Aquila is also still active. Capanna Gorda is situated at 1,800 metres above sea level on an extensive pasture above the houses of Monti di Gorda. It can be reached by a road open to vehicles and serves as a starting point for several hikes. If you are heading to Capanna Gorda, check the current access conditions in advance.

Another alpine destination is Capanna Adula Utoe. It lies at the foot of Cima della Negra and is an access point to Ghiacciaio di Bresciana; the onward route leads to a peak at an altitude of 3,402 metres. Before setting out on a hike in this mountain area, check the conditions.

Note that route descriptions refer to different itineraries. Sentiero storico numero 4, the historic trail through the middle and upper Valle di Blenio, runs from Acquarossa to Olivone and follows mostly the lower path on the left bank of the Brenno. Via Francisca del Lucomagno passes through Ponto Aquilesco and Aquila before continuing to the former Cima Norma factory in Dangio. It is advisable to check route information before setting out.

Churches, frescoes and historic buildings

The parish church of San Vittore Mauro is documented in records from 1213 and 1230. The present-day late Baroque building was constructed between 1728 and 1730 on the old walls of its predecessor. Three arches visible from the outside and a lunette from 1502 have survived from the former Romanesque church. Local painter Carlo Biucchi decorated the main façade with frescoes in 1732.

The Oratorio S. Maria delle Grazie, also known as della Beata Vergine al Riale, stands on higher ground above the village of Aquila. It preserves a 16th-century fresco of the Madonna; the ceiling fresco depicting the Assumption is attributed to Giovanni Degiorgi of Aquila. Nearby, in Ponto Aquilesco, the Oratorio di S. Caterina was first mentioned in 1567 and enlarged in 1613. The nave contains rustic frescoes from 1615. The choir frescoes from 1578 are attributed to the Tarilli of Cureglia.

The historic houses of Aquila also feature frescoes dating from the 15th to the 18th century. In the hamlets and settlements, oratories preserve furnishings from the 16th and 17th centuries. Among the individual listed cultural assets are 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 considered a cultural asset of local importance.

Ponte Romano stands in Grumarone. Built in 1461, it is one of the oldest surviving stone arch bridges of its kind in Switzerland. Together with the churches, frescoes and oratories, it shows the diversity of Aquila’s historic buildings.

Tradition and local craft history

The Milizia della Madonna del Rosario appears in Aquila on the first Sunday of every July. The tradition arose in the 19th century in connection with the creation of the Helvetic Republic and the Napoleonic Wars. If you would like to plan your stay around this appearance, confirm the date before travelling.

The history of the chocolate makers is also part of local tradition. In 1946, Federico Bruni described Aquila as the “cradle of the chocolatiers of Blenio”. These artisans initially specialised in processing cocoa with a prea, a grinding stone; later, they became industrialists in the chocolate industry. The description refers to a historical development, not to any current offer of tastings or workshops.

Discover more destinations: Torre, Dangio, Campo, Anzano.

Go to the regional travel overview: Blenio.