Discover Bedano: Oratories, trails and chestnut groves

Bedano lies in the central part of the Vedeggio Valley, close to important transport routes and Lugano. For travellers choosing where to stay based on historic religious buildings, trails or a chestnut grove, the town offers a range of points of interest. The building history of the town centre, the regional Strada Regina and the recreational areas in the woodland landscape each offer a distinct focus.

Oratories and local history

The Oratorio di Santa Maria can be visited in the centre of Bedano. It is considered the oldest building in the town and was built between 1365 and 1367. Listed as a national monument, it preserves fragments of 15th-century frescoes. The date of construction and the paintings give the visit a tangible historical context. Architecturally, the Chiesa di S. Maria retains a medieval nave, which ends in a Baroque choir.

The Oratorio di San Rocco was built in 1570 to protect against the plague. In 1597, it was extended by adding a nave. Following restoration in 1999, the oratory was reopened to the faithful on 13 June 1999. The timeline shows that the building developed over several stages before it was restored.

Another chapel is La Madonnina della Valle Barberina, in the forest above Bedano. It was inaugurated and blessed on 19 September 2010. Medieval traces in the town also include the castle ruins of Casletto, which are listed in the 2026 inventory of cultural assets of Ticino. Earlier work is also part of local history: the Gruppo Creativo Bedano revived the work of brickmakers by moulding roof tiles and bricks and firing them in a kiln at 1050 °C. A cooperative dairy began operating in Bedano in 1890.

Strada Regina and other trails

The themed route Strada Regina runs from Gambarogno to Caslano. It passes through Monteceneri, Mezzovico-Vira, Torricella Taverne, Bedano, Gravesano, Manno, Bioggio, Agno and Magliaso; the project involves eleven municipalities. The trail is more than 30 km long and follows official routes in the cantonal hiking network. The Sentieri Commission of the Canton of Ticino has recognised it as an official themed trail, and dedicated signs mark the route. It is also included in the Swiss Inventory of Historic Roads (IVS).

Along the Strada Regina, visitors encounter chestnut groves, historic villages and houses, churches and fortifications. The route connects with the Via del Ceneri, the Via Storica del Montecenerino and the Via Francisca del Lucomagno. It partly follows the same route as the Via Francisca. The Strada Regina can therefore be understood both through its long-distance route and its connections to historic paths.

There are also trail descriptions with a more local focus: in 2018, an official trail leading uphill from Bedano to Arosio was restored. In 2019, a connecting trail between the Bacino vecchio and Prematt areas was restored. The two dates refer to different connections: the trail from Bedano to Arosio and the trail between the two areas named above.

The Monte Tamaro Bike route also leads down to Bedano in the valley floor, via a single track through the forest. On some sections, mountain bikers have to push their bikes. If you plan to take this route, be sure to allow for the sections where you need to push. The forest road in Bedano, also known as the fire road, is another named point of interest: it was built in 2000 and is appreciated by many as a recreational area.

Woodland landscape and Ciöss Castegna

Bedano’s foothill belt is characterised by woodland; there are few open green spaces near the mountain settlements. The restored chestnut grove of Ciöss Castegna adds a distinctive feature to the landscape. The 2.5 ha recreational area is open to the community. Widely spaced, fruit-bearing chestnut trees shape the site; there is also a meadow that is grazed and mown every year. The grove provides a habitat for birds that depend on open woodland habitats.

Visitors to Ciöss Castegna will find tables, benches and information boards. The chestnut collection is also open to everyone. This makes the grove distinctive for its facilities and use as a recreational area, setting it apart from Bedano’s other woodland trails and routes. The landscape protection zones have their own points of reference: PA1 protects the landscape setting of the town centre, while PA2 protects that of the Riale Balberina stream.

Discover more destinations: Maroggia, Bogno, Cureglia, Roveredo, Astano, Comano Ti, Alto Malcantone, Cademario

For the main travel overview: Lugano.