Madonna del Sasso-Bellinzona

The starting point of the Ticino connection route is at the pilgrimage church Madonna del Sasso and is easily accessible from Locarno by a funicular railway. The pilgrimage site was founded after the Marian apparition of the Franciscan friar Bartolomeo of Ivrea in 1480. With a beautiful view of Lago Maggiore, the route crosses the villa districts of Orselina on the Sentiero collina bassa. In addition to the yellow hiking signs, you find the stickers with shells and arrow symbols of the Way of St. James in the canton of Ticino (and later also in Nidwalden). A forest path leads to Brione sopra Minusio. Then roads and forest paths alternate until a vineyard path with steps descends to Tenero. It continues along the Verzasca River, then almost parallel to a main road along the Locarno airfield to a busy main road, along which a path leads to the Ticino River. After crossing the river, the route follows the dam along the Sentiero Magadino via Gubiasco to Bellinzona, past Castel Grande to the city center with train station.