Piano Di Peccia: Marble, Sculpture and Hiking

Get to know Piano Di Peccia through its local history, marble and sculpture culture, and hikes from the valley into the mountain landscape. The village has historic buildings, while trails in the surrounding area lead to marble quarries, a sculpture school and a mountain hut.

Marble, Sculpture and Local History

A 1640 oratory stands in the original village centre of Piano Di Peccia. Old stables with wooden haylofts and gabled roofs add to the picture of rural architecture. Marble has been quarried and worked near Peccia since 1946; a sculpture school was established in Val Lavizzara in 1984.

A marble quarry beside Gèiba lies in the wider area around Piano Di Peccia, at an altitude of about 1,300 metres. From Piano Di Peccia, an approximately half-hour path leads uphill through the valley to the quarry. It produces several hundred cubic metres of marble each year. Another marble quarry lies at the foot of Punta della Rossa, in the wider area around Peccia; by contrast, gneiss formations dominate the Upper Maggia Valley. The two types of rock provide a clear geological contrast in the region.

You can also encounter marble in a different context in Gèiba and San Carlo: a building in the hamlet of Gèiba bears marble inscriptions dating from the 16th century. Marblework also adorns the interior and exterior of the parish church in San Carlo.

Sculpture and Visits

The Scuola di Scultura in the wider area around Piano Di Peccia offers a variety of sculpture courses from spring to autumn. The courses are open to everyone. Four studios can be rented for longer stays. Course schedules and rental options may change, so check the current terms before making plans.

The Centro Internazionale di Scultura in the wider area presents international exhibitions and hosts five artists-in-residence in rotation. It is accessible by car and public transport. Guided visits can be arranged on request, so you should ask about a tour in advance.

Hikes and Mountain Trails

An easy hiking route leads from Piano Di Peccia to Peccia. It is 8.8 kilometres long, with 198 metres of ascent and 401 metres of descent. The descent is therefore more than twice the ascent—a useful distinction when planning the route into your day.

The route to Capanna Poncione di Braga passes through woodland and extensive pastures, then becomes steep from Corte di Fondo di Sròdan. It passes Lago della Froda and reaches the hut in Valle di Peccia at an altitude of 2,000 metres above sea level, at the foot of Pizzo Castello. The hut is staffed in summer; the surrounding area is also considered popular for ski touring. The hike to Peccia and the mountain route to the hut thus differ in their destination, altitude and the terrain described.

Separate access conditions apply when driving to the Alps of Bolla and Froda. The road from Piano Di Peccia is a gravel road and must be driven with a 4x4 vehicle. It leads to the alpine farming areas. You can collect the barrier key at Ristorante Monaci in San Carlo, in Valle di Peccia. Check the road conditions and key collection arrangements before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Lodano, Lavizzara, Cevio, Avegno-Gordevio, San Carlo, Campo, Brontallo, Gordevio.

Back to the main travel overview: Vallemaggia.